Plectonic Biotech has developed a nanoswitch that connects immune cells with tumor cells. This should make immunotherapies against cancer more targeted and with fewer side effects. So-called immunotherapies are considered a particularly pioneering approach for the treatment of cancer. They involve directing the body's own immune system against cancer cells. A major challenge is to combine a highly effective immune response against cancer cells with minimal side effects. The Plectonic team, led by founders Klaus Wagenbauer, Jonas Funke, Benjamin Kick, and Hendrik Dietz, has therefore developed an "on/off switch" for antibody immunotherapies.
The construct, which is just a few nanometers in size, can dock onto cells on two sides. On one side, the researchers place antibodies against tumor cells, which it uses to identify and bind to tumor cells. This essentially flips a switch that activates other, previously hidden antibodies on the opposite side. These are recognized by the body's own immune cells, which are then recruited to fight the cancer cells.
“Fewer side effects of immunotherapies”
Co-Founder of Plectonic Biotech, Klaus Wagenbauer, explains:
"With this technology, we can connect cancer and immune cells in such a way that the immune system only takes up the fight once a tumor cell has been identified. In this way, we hope to achieve lower activity in healthy tissue and thus fewer side effects of immunotherapy."
Different antibodies targeted at different tumor types can be used on the switch. In collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, the startup now aims to develop new therapeutics against various tumor diseases. The goal of the collaboration between Sprind and Plectonic is to conduct the studies necessary for an IND (investigational new drug) application and for the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial.
Accompaniment through the 'Valley of Death'
Mario Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Supervisory Board member of the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovations Sprind, says:
"Plectonic, with its groundbreaking therapeutic approach, is once again a very good example that demonstrates Sprind's role in the innovation ecosystem: With Sprind, we identify and support technologies with breakthrough innovation potential and accompany them through the 'Valley of Death,' from basic research to market readiness. Companies like Plectonic Biotech GmbH do not yet receive sufficient equity from private investors at the maturity stage of their technology, as drug approval, sales, and profits are only expected in several years, and the path to achieving this is risky and costly. To ensure that this promising new approach, which is important for many cancer patients, has a chance to realize its medical and economic benefits in Germany, instruments like Sprind are needed."
The Plectonic team developed the technology at the Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering at TUM. Several patent families have already been granted or filed with TUM support. The spin-off was founded in TUM Venture Lab Healthcare promoted.
