Cell Medica Limited

Baylor College of Medicine

Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation

Allovir, Inc.

Rainer Ludwig Knaus

Katy Rebecca Newton

Cliona M Rooney

Andrew Roy MacLeod Provan

Gavin Holms

Tina Lesley Crombie

Ann Marie Leen

Juan F Vera

John R Wilson

Minhtran V Ngo

Andrew Roy Macleod Provan

An in vitro expansion process for rapid expansion of antigen specific T cells, such as allogeneic antigen specific T cells comprising the steps culturing in a gas permeable vessel a population of PBMCs (such as allogeneic PBMCs) in the presence of antigen, for example a peptide or peptide mix relevant to a target antigen(s), in the presence of an exogenous cytokine characterized in that the expansion to provide the desired population of T cells is 14 days or less, for example 9, 10, 11 or 12 days, such as 10 days. The disclosure also extends to T cell populations generated by and obtained from the method and the use of same in therapy.

Process for T cell expansion

The present disclosure relates to a novel process for expanding T cells, such as autologous T cells, cell populations therefrom, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the said cell populations and use of the cells and compositions for treatment, particular the treatment or prophylaxis of virus infection and/or cancer, for example in immune compromised or immune competent human patients.

Process of expanding T cells

A closed system suitable for the aseptic culturing of therapeutic cells. The present system facilitates the aseptic manufacturing of cells for use in therapy, without the need for a clean-room environment because no open processing steps are required.

Device for the aseptic expansion of cells

Cell culture pot

A closed system suitable for the aseptic culturing therapeutic cells comprises a vessel comprising: a gas permeable portion suitable for supporting cell growth and allowing delivery of gases to the cells during culturing, a vent comprising a conduit having an exterior orifice and an interior orifice spaced apart therefrom, the vent extending from the exterior of the system into the internal volume of the vessel and terminating therein with the interior orifice, wherein the interior orifice is arranged such that during filling and emptying of liquid medium it is not susceptible to blockage by liquid, the exterior orifice is adapted to connect to an aseptic filter thereby allowing passage of gases through the filter into the vessel or out of the vessel, as required to achieve the entry and exit of fluids and cells into the vessel, a port or ports adapted to allow introduction of fluids and cells aseptically into the vessel, and a port or ports adapted to allow fluids to exit the system without exposing the system to the external environment and adapted such that cells grown therein may exit the system under gravity when the system is orientated to put the cells in fluid communication with the exit port and the latter is opened. The present system facilitates the aseptic manufacturing of cells for use in therapy, without the need for a clean-room environment because no open processing steps are required.

Growing community of inventors

London, United Kingdom

Rainer Ludwig Knaus