Immuno-Oncology Drug Discovery

Immuno-oncology is a therapeutic approach that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer

The human immune system has evolved in order to eliminate abnormal biological material in the body, whether this arises from an infectious organism (such as a bacterium or a virus), or from a tumour. However, cancer cells can often mutate in ways that enable them to evade the immune system. Immuno-oncology works by modifying the immune system so that it is able to recognise even these mutated cancer cells and eradicate them. Some immune-oncology treatments are based on biological materials such as immune-cell therapy (CAR-T), or the use of monoclonal antibodies that recognise tumour-associated antigens or block the function of checkpoint proteins. More recently, scientists have been investigating ways in which small-molecule drugs can also be developed to provide immune-oncology treatments.

Immuno-Oncology at Domainex

Domainex is supporting clients who are developing novel immune-oncology therapies using our expertise in protein expression, cancer cell biology, immunology (particularly cytokine profiling), and small-molecule drug research.

For example, working with our client Macrophage Pharma, we are looking at ways to target small-molecule enzyme inhibitors to macrophages using their proprietary Esterase Sensitive Motif™ technology. This allows reprogramming of tumour-associated macrophages to stimulate the anti-tumour immune response and/or reverse tumour-mediated immunosuppression. Click here to find out more by viewing a poster case study on this work.

If you would like to access the Domainex immuno-oncology drug discovery services to support your own programme we would be delighted to hear from you.