BioCytics, Inc., and LIDE Biotech have formed a strategic alliance to develop advanced screening platforms and companion diagnostics for immune-based cancer cell therapies. The collaboration combines BioCytics’ cell manufacturing capabilities with LIDE’s patient-derived xenograft technologies (PDX, miniPDX, and IO-based PDX models) to streamline the development of immuno-oncology (IO) treatments.
The initial project based on the companies’ recently-executed Memorandum of Understanding will involve the creation of murine PDX models using human biospecimens from ethically consented patients on an institutional review board (IRB)-approved BioCytics tumour and immune cells collection study that opened in 2007 and is still ongoing. These models can then be used to observe critical responses, such as drug resistance or induced cell death, for cells being treated in in vivo validation studies. Further model studies will involve DNA and RNA sequencing for additional response research such as human anti-tumour immune cell function.
BioCytics’ COO, Brent Dixon, said: “Working with LIDE Biotech enables real breakthroughs in personalised medicine for cancer patients. We are excited about exploring our developments for autologous adaptive immune cell therapy (AAICT) within this unique model. We expect to learn more about the molecular pathways and signatures based upon the applied analytical methodologies.”
Danyi Wen, LIDE’s founder and CEO, said: “LIDE is excited for its first-ever partnership with an American-based company to further deliver on our goals to support translational research for new drug R&D as well as personalised oncology. We are looking forward to working with BioCytics and leveraging its expertise to make LIDE technologies available outside of China. BioCytics’ patient-first vision is inspiring and truly aligns with LIDE’s mission to empower more scientists, accelerate more breakthroughs, and help move promising treatments one step closer to patients in need.”