The partnership will see Selexis and NexImmune collaborate to develop cell lines targeting autoimmune diseases and rare cancers.

Under the terms of the deal, of which financial details have not been disclosed, NexImmune will use Selexis’ SUREtechnology to develop cell lines to treat rare cancers, autoimmune diseases, and advance two human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), which can be used to increase treatments to more individuals.

“There is a growing global demand for biologics and therapeutics. Specifically, a growing industry is developing products to be expressed in mammalian host cells, and Selexis is an expert in this technology,” a spokesperson for Selexis told us.

“Selexis customers are interested in finding a stable, high-producing cell line that increases the likelihood of going into the clinic and commercial. Recurrent clients like NexImmune come back to us because they need high-quality cell line technology for their recombinant proteins, stability, and high titers.”

Selexis’ SUREtechnology platform delivers a modular approach to cell line development that provides top cell line productivity levels and has the capability to address the difficulties associated with manufacturing complex proteins.

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Selexis told BioProcess Insider in July 2021 that to address the three key capabilities required for bispecific antibody (bsAbs) production, SUREtechnology consists of: Selexis Genetic Elements (SGE), SUREvariant Screening and SURE CHO-Mplus Libraries.

The cell lines are Selexis generated and will be used to produce HLA IgG4 fusion proteins as well as T cell co-stimulatory monoclonal antibodies that will be merged with NexImmune’s Artificial Immune Modulation (AIM) injectable nanoparticle modality. According to both parties, the nanoparticles have been designed to be an off-the-shelf injectable modality to enable the patient’s own T cells to be able to recognize and kill numerous diseased cells within the human body.

“We are pleased to support NexImmune’s exciting programs,” said Mark Womak, CEO of Selexis and KBI Biopharma.

“Its innovative T cell modulating nanotechnology has the potential to create therapies that provide better outcomes for patients suffering from rare forms of cancer and autoimmune diseases. We are excited to continue our longstanding relationship with NexImmune and are proud to be its cell line development provider of choice. We look forward to helping advance their novel immunotherapies to the clinic.”

Furthermore, NexImmune claims its off-the-shelf AIM injectable nanoparticles are decked with antigen-specific peptides and co-stimulatory molecules, which can engage antigen-specific T cell populations at different areas inside the body and stimulate or tolerize them to address a broad range of diseases.

According to Selexis, there is no time limit to this partnership and “NexImmune will use the cell lines (RCBs) developed by Selexis for preclinical and clinical trials. If these trials are successful, NexImmune will use the Selexis-generated cell lines through commercial manufacturing.”

Additionally, the spokesperson said that “Selexis has enough staff to serve its customers. The NexImmune partnership will not trigger new demand for additional resources.”