Newlink Genetics Corporation

Won-Bin Young

Mario Mautino

Firoz Jaipuri

Charles J Link

Gabriela Rossi

Nicholas N Vahanian

Charles J Link, Jr

James N Higginbotham

Teresa Di Colandrea

Cherisa Meyer

The invention relates to methods and compositions for causing the selective targeting and killing of tumor cells. The present invention describes prophylactic or therapeutic cancer vaccines based on purified TAA proteins or TAA-derived synthetic peptides altered by chemical, enzymatic or chemo-enzymatic methods to introduce &#x3b1;Gal epitopes or &#x3b1;Gal glycomimetic epitopes, in order to allow for enhanced opsonization of the antigen by natural anti-&#x3b1;Gal antibodies to stimulate TAA capture and presentation, thereby inducing a humoral and cellular immune response to the TAA expressed by a tumor. The animal's immune system thus is stimulated to produce tumor specific cytotoxic cells and antibodies which will attack and kill tumor cells present in the animal.

Enhanced immunogenicity of tumor associated antigens by addition of alphagal epitopes

The invention relates to methods and compositions for causing the selective targeting and killing of tumor cells. The present invention describes prophylactic or therapeutic cancer vaccines based on purified TAA proteins or TAA-derived synthetic peptides altered by chemical, enzymatic or chemo-enzymatic methods to introduce &#x3b1;Gal epi topes or &#x3b1;Gal glycomimetic epitopes, in order to allow for enhanced opsonization of the antigen by natural anti-&#x3b1;Gal antibodies to stimulate TAA capture and presentation, thereby inducing a humoral and cellular immune response to the TAA expressed by a tumor. The animal's immune system thus is stimulated to produce tumor specific cytotoxic cells and antibodies which will attack and kill tumor cells present in the animal.

Enhanced immunogenicity of tumor associated antigens by addition of &#x3b1;gal epitopes

Enhanced immunogenicity of tumor associated antigens by addition of alphaGal epitopes

A method is described for the rapid identification and isolation of cells based on the presence or absence of an ectopically-expressed N-acetyllactosaminide 3-&#x3b1; Galactosyltransferase (&#x3b1;GT) enzyme for the production of &#x3b1;Galactosyl-(1,3)Galactosyl (&#x3b1;Gal) epitopes on the surface of &#x3b1;Gal-negative cells. These cells which are genetically modified to express the &#x3b1;GT enzyme and &#x3b1;Gal epitopes on glycosylated lipids and proteins of the cell surface are then labeled via an antibody composition which recognizes and binds the &#x3b1;Gal epitopes on the cell surface. Cells labeled with the anti-&#x3b1;Gal antibody can be isolated by sorting via fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), or by magnetic panning techniques. This method is suitable for the rapid positive or negative selection of &#x3b1;Gal-positive cells from within a population of &#x3b1;Gal-negative cells without the need to expose cells to antibiotics for any period of time. In addition, the specification provides a method for the production and purification of anti-&#x3b1;Gal antibodies from chicken egg yolk.

Selectable gene marker system based on expression of N-acetyllactosaminide 3-&#x3b1; galactosyltransferase

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Won-Bin Young