OXvax Technology Platform
The OXvax technology is a next generation Dendritic Cell (DC) immuno-oncology vaccination platform which is superior to previous technologies by harnessing the beneficial properties of a specialised DC subset, described as CD141+XCR1+ DC. These are generated via differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using a bespoke proprietary protocol providing for manufacture of bulk quantities under cGMP.
The DC subset has similar characteristics to the inaccessible and rare lymph node-resident human DC subset known as myeloid cDC1. This subset has the ability to induce a potent anti-tumour response but is found in very low abundance in vivo, insufficient to isolate numbers required for therapeutic development. CD141+ DC co-express CCR7 and XCR1 which guides their migration towards lymphoid tissues and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to which they can cross present exogenous tumour associated antigens directly, inducing a potent anti-tumour response.
The OXvax technology lends itself for either a fully autologous or a semi-allogeneic treatment but the Company is initially focused on the development of an off-the-shelf semi-allogeneic vaccine suitable for the treatment of solid tumour cancers.
By providing for bulk quantities of the advantaged CD141+XCR1+ DC subset in an off-the shelf semi-allogeneic treatment, the OXvax technology offers a rational approach to overcoming many of the problems previously encountered with dendritic cell vaccination and is likely to be better-tolerated and safer than competitor technologies such as CAR-T cells.
The OXvax technology is protected by a robust set of patent families filed in major jurisdictions around the globe.
PUBLICATIONS
Publications of interest
OXvax is working at the leading edge of the application of cell therapies in inmmuno-oncology. Below are examples of papers published by our founders and collaborators, as well as articles featuring our pioneering work:
Towards the rational design of a next-generation dendritic cell vaccine for cancer immunotherapy
Bravo et al., Cell & Gene Therapy Insights 2021; 7(5), 637–650, 10.18609/cgti.2021.086
Haplobanking induced pluripotent stem cells for clinical use
Sullivan et al, Stem Cell Research 49 (2020) 102035
Horton et al., Stem Cells. 2019;1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/stem.3095
P.J. Fairchild et al, Cell & Gene Therapy Insights 2019; 5(5), 565–566 DOI: 10.18609/cgti.2019.062
M.Bravo, Cell & Gene Therapy Insights 2019; 5(5), 555–564. 10.18609/cgti.2019.061
Sachamitr, P., Leishman, A.J., Davies, T.J., and Fairchild, P.J. Front. Immunol., 08 January 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01935
Dendritic cells and pluripotency: unlikely allies in the pursuit of immunotherapy
Fairchild PJ, Leishman A, Sachamitr P, Telfer C, Hackett S, Davies TJ. Dendritic cells and pluripotency: unlikely allies in the pursuit of immunotherapy. Regen Med. 2015;10(3):275-86. doi: 10.2217/rme.15.6. PMID: 25933237.
Induced pluripotent stem cells: challenges and opportunities for cancer immunotherapy
Sachamitr et al., Frontiers in Immunology, April 2014 | Volume 5 | Article 176
Differentiation of Dendritic Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Leishman A., Fairchild P.J. (2014) Differentiation of Dendritic Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. In: Hayat M. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 12. Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8032-2_3
Silk KM, Silk JD, Ichiryu N, et al. Cross-presentation of tumour antigens by human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CD141(+)XCR1+ dendritic cells. Gene Therapy. 2012 Oct;19(10):1035-1040. DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.177.
Differentiation of Dendritic Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells. In Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Silk KM, Tseng SY, Nishimoto KP, Lebkowski J, Reddy A, Fairchild PJ. Differentiation of dendritic cells from human embryonic stem cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2011;767:449-61. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-201-4_33. PMID: 21822895.
Tseng SY, Nishimoto KP, Silk KM, Majumdar AS, Dawes GN, Waldmann H, Fairchild PJ, Lebkowski JS, Reddy A. Generation of immunogenic dendritic cells from human embryonic stem cells without serum and feeder cells. Regen Med. 2009 Jul;4(4):513-26. doi: 10.2217/rme.09.25. PMID: 19580370.
Genetic Modification of Dendritic Cells Through the Directed Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Fairchild PJ, Nolan KF, Waldmann H. Genetic modification of dendritic cells through the directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2007;380:59-72. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-395-0_4. PMID: 17876087.
Stable lines of genetically modified dendritic cells from mouse embryonic stem cells
Fairchild PJ, Nolan KF, Cartland S, Graça L, Waldmann H. Stable lines of genetically modified dendritic cells from mouse embryonic stem cells. Transplantation. 2003 Aug 15;76(3):606-8. doi: 10.1097/01.TP.0000074318.96235.B3. PMID: 12923452.
Directed differentiation of dendritic cells from mouse embryonic stem cells
P.J. Fairchild, F.A. Brook, R.L. Gardner, L. Graça, V. Strong, Y. Tone, M. Tone, K.F. Nolan, H. Waldmann, Current Biology, Volume 10, Issue 23, 2000, Pages 1515-1518, ISSN 0960-9822, doi.org/10.1016/S0960-9822(00)00824-1.