TICAROS

Many groups in CAR-T field are trying to improve CAR-T efficacy by modifying the structure of CAR proteins. Representatively, CAR signaling domain derived from costimulatory molecules are being replaced or added.

Beyond such stereotypic strategy, TICAROS focused on a strategy to strengthen contacting force between CAR-T cells and target cells such as APC (antigen presenting cell) and tumor cells by stabilizing the cellular contact zone, immune synapse. CLIP CAR (Clamping-based Immunological Synapse Potentiating CAR) technique of TICAROS stabilizes immune synapse between CAR-T cells and target tumor cells by modifying CAR structure, which results in maximized efficacy of CAR-T cells.

In an animal model comparative study between the CLIP CAR-T cell therapy—which incorporates this immune synapse stabilization technology—and a commercially available CAR-T product, our therapy demonstrated superior anticancer efficacy, outperforming the commercial product by more than fivefold.​