Technology Platform
Overview
Manipulating the immune system for human health benefits is not new as vaccines have been used for decades for preventative purposes. Research and development efforts are increasingly being focused on immunotherapy drugs to treat disease by directly activating the immune response to a specific target. In the last 20 years, there has been significant development in immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
The immune system consists of two major subsystems: innate immunity and acquired (adaptive) immunity. As its name implies, innate immunity is the protection we are born with. Innate immune cells are the body’s first line defenders. Innate immune cells attack pathogens in a non-discriminatory manner. Adaptive immunity is learned. The adaptive immune system recognizes molecules unique to a foreign pathogen and maintains a “memory” of these pathogen so it can respond more quickly to a subsequent infection.
Most pharmaceutical development, however, has been focused on utilizing the adaptive arm of the immune system (e.g. vaccines, antibodies, T-cells, B-cells). Recently, pharmaceutical companies have placed greater focus on compounds that can activate the innate immune system (e.g. toll-like receptors, growth factors, cytokines) to work in combination with the adaptive immune system for a more complete immune response against disease.
Biothera’s technology is focused on the innate immune system. The significance of the technology is its ability to enhance the natural innate immune function and in certain circumstances, engage and direct the innate immune cells in novel ways against specific diseases. In these targeted applications, Biothera’s technology acts as a keystone, engaging both the innate and adaptive immune systems to work in concert for a more complete immune response.