Immunology and Biotherapies

UPENN’s approach (as well as Juno’s) involves Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR T-cell), comprised of consists of an intracellular T-cell receptor CD3-zeta chain signaling domain that induces T-cell activation, a costimulatory 4-1BB domain that enhances T-cell mediated responses and anti-CD19 antibody fragments that bind to CD19. So, the main difference between Adaptimmune’s approach and UPENN’s is that Adaptimmune uses the T Cell Receptor, itself, and UPENN creates a T Cell Receptor-like molecule using an antibody targeting domain for CD19, which is on the surface of B cells. In clinical studies, 90% patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia achieved a complete response.