The 2 components of the immune system, the innate and adaptive immune system, act together to recognize and kill abnormal cells, such as tumor cells. In the initial stages of cancer, there is a balance between abnormally dividing cells and the immune response. However, over time, tumor cells can disguise themselves and evade immune detection.
The innate immune system plays an important role as the first responder to tumor cells and initiates its tumor cell–killing mechanisms. It also activates an adaptive response, which further aids in tumor recognition and killing. In patients with cancer, innate immune cells do not function adequately to recognize and kill tumor cells.
Therapies in the field of immuno-oncology (I-O) aim to restore the protective nature of a patient’s immune system. While tremendous advances have been made in I-O research that have primarily focused on adaptive immune system activation, a cure remains elusive, and novel therapeutic options with long-term benefits and better safety profiles are needed to further help patients.
Engaging the innate immune system opens new opportunities for long-lasting, multilayered tumor control.2, 3
Our proprietary science and technology—ICE® (innate cell engager) molecules built on the ROCK® (Redirected Optimized Cell Killing) platform—activate the innate immune system to provide new hope for people fighting cancer.
References: 1. Tesi RJ. Immunotherapy for cancer: why fight only half the battle? BioProcess International. Published March 14, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2021. https://bioprocessintl.com/2019/march-2019/immunotherapy-for-cancer-why-fight-only-half-the-battle 2. Demaria O, Cornen S, Daëron M, Morel Y, Medzhitov R, Vivier E. Harnessing innate immunity in cancer therapy. Nature. 2019;574(7776):45-56. 3. Pinto S, Pahl J, Schottelius A, Carter PJ, Koch J. Reimagining antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in cancer: the potential of natural killer cell engagers. Trends in Immunology. 2022;43(11):932-946.