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About ALKemist Bio

 

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T cell-based therapies represent a revolutionary approach in the fight against solid cancers. Established treatments often face limitations, unable to fully address the complexities of ALK-driven malignancies as resistance mutations emerge and eventually, patients relapse. T cell therapies bring new possibilities to overcoming these challenges.

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At ALKemist Bio, we are developing T-cell-based therapies that specifically target ALK antigens found on ALK-positive cancer cells. By harnessing the power of the immune system and engineering T cell therapies  that precisely recognize and combat these cancerous cells, we aim to pave the way for more effective and durable treatments to improve the standard of care.

Our TCR-T Program

TCR-T cell therapy, or T-cell receptor-engineered T cell therapy, is a cutting-edge immunotherapy approach designed to harness the patient's own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Here's how it works:

01

Collection of T Cells

The process begins with the extraction of T cells from the patient's blood through a procedure called leukapheresis. These T cells are a type of white blood cells that play a vital role in the immune system's defense against infections and diseases.

02

Isolation and Modification

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Once the T cells are collected, they are isolated and modified in the laboratory. Scientists use genetic engineering techniques to introduce a highly specific T-cell receptor (TCR) into these cells. The resulting TCR-T cells (ALK.TCR-T) are engineered to specifically recognize the ALK antigen presented by these cancer cells.

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03

Expansion and Growth

After modification, the TCR-T cells are grown and multiplied to large numbers, creating a significant population of ALK-specific TCR-T cells that are now programmed to precisely target this cancer-specific antigen.

04

Infusion

The expanded and modified TCR-T cells are then infused back into the patient's bloodstream. These engineered T cells are now armed with the ability to specifically recognize and bind to the ALK cancer antigen.

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05

Targeting Cancer Cells

Once in the bloodstream, the modified TCR-T cells circulate throughout the body, seeking out and identifying cancer cells that express ALK. When a TCR-T cell encounters a cancer cell with the matching ALK antigen, it binds to the presented antigen. This subsequently triggers the cytotoxic activity of the T cells, which leads to the destruction of the ALK-expressing cancer cell.

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