APEIRON Biologics licences MaxCyte’s electroporation platform

Under the agreement, APEIRON Biologics AG (Vienna) gets the right to utilise MaxCyte Inc’s ExPERT^® platform for the scaleable transfection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with siRNA directed against the immune checkpoint Casitas-B-lineage lymphoma protein-b (Cbl-b), an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Cbl-b has been shown to enhance T cell and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antitumour activity in mouse tumour models. APEIRON Biologics licenced the technology targeting Cbl-b from the Columbia University  and the Medical University of Innsbruck in 2018.

APEIRON’s cell therapy candidate, code-named APN-401, is currently in Phase Ib development as an experimental treatment for end-stage patients with certain solid tumours. In Phase I tests, APN401 did not show immediate severe side effects and was well tolerated using a dose of 50 x 10⁵ PBMCs/kg. Acccording to APEIRON, targeting Cbl-b offers the opportunity to override numerous relevant checkpoints including sensitivity to regulatory T cells (Tregs), suppression by TGF-β, and immune regulation by CTLA-4 and PD-L1/PD-1 pathways.

MaxCyte’ Inc’s technology will help APEIRON Biologics to scale up cell transfection and production for manufacturing clinical lots of APN401. Under the terms of the agreement, the Viennese company obtains non-exclusive clinical and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation^® technology and ExPERT™ platform for the development of APN401. MaxCyte will receive undisclosed development and approval milestones and sales-based payments in addition to other licensing fees.

Through a capital increase in May 2020, APEIRON Biologics AG has received funds in the double-digit million range for the development of its Phase II COVID-19 medicine APN01 and APN401.