Conference Day Two

We are Live in Boston

7:45 am Morning Coffee

8:25 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Improving Clarity & Synchronization of Efforts for Successful Development & Commercialization of TILs

8:30 am Panel Discussion: Key Considerations for Increasing TIL Treatment Capacity & Preparing for Commercialization

Synopsis

  • What are key steps to increase TIL infrastructure and meet patient demand?
  • Considerations such as TIL treatment facilities, staff recruitment and training, and resources
  • What are the model regulatory and reimbursement strategies for TILs?
  • Navigating the current regulatory landscape and discussing key considerations when preparing for commercialization

9:15 am Key Qualities of TILs & Hallmarks of Successfully Developing TIL Therapies

Synopsis

  • Highlighting advantages of TIL poly-clonality and state-of-the-art approaches such as AI/ML to obtain and preserve truly tumor reactive T-cells
  • Identifying gene-modifications to enhance TIL expansion, persistence, and efficacy
  • Discussing current innovations in cell culture methods for effective TIL expansion

9:45 am Presentation By Biosharing Network

  • Hem Sapkota Process Development & Mammalian Bioprocess Scientist, Cytovance Biologics

Synopsis

  • Discuss how feeder cells can be made from a by product of plateletpheresis procedures
  • Discuss the advantages of an off-the-shelf feeder cell product
  • Discuss product configurations of an off-the-shelf feeder cell product

10:15 am Morning Refreshment Break & Networking

Preclinical & Translation

Equipping TILs with Necessary Modifications to Persist in Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironments

11:00 am Rejuvenation of T-Cells Results in Younger Epigenetic Age & Improved Anti-Tumor Functions In Vitro & In Vivo

Synopsis

  • Novel potential disruptive technology to rejuvenate T-cells across multiple therapeutic modalities
  • Rejuvenated T-cells show younger epigenetic age, enhanced cell proliferation and cytokine release, and sustained antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo
  • Rejuvenated TILs preserve polyclonal anti-tumor TCR repertoire and display improved antitumor properties

11:30 am Utilizing CoSTAR Cells for Persistent Activity in the Tumor Microenvironment

Synopsis

  • Tumor reactive T-cells become dysfunctional within the tumor microenvironment (TME), where little co-stimulation is present
  • Provision of co-stimulation in the TME by genetic modification of TIL with CoStAR® restores T-cell function in vitro and improves anti-tumor efficacy in pre-clinical models

12:00 pm Counteracting T-Cell Exhaustion: T-Cell Therapy Meets Organelle Medicine

  • Luca Gattinoni Professor - Functional Immune Cell Modulation, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy New!

Synopsis

  • Bone marrow stromal cells transfer mitochondria to CD8+ T cells via intercellular nanotube connections.
  • Mitochondrial transfer augments CD8+ T cell metabolic fitness
  • Mitochondrial transfer empowers TCR and CAR-modified T cells as well as TILs to counteract exhaustion and fight tumors more effectively.

Clinical Strategy & Manufacturing

Advancing Sample Collection Methods to Set Manufacturing Up for Success

11:00 am Optimizing Starting Material Quality through Targeted Sample Collection

Synopsis

  • What are some approaches we can take to increase the proportion of tumor reactive T-cells in starting material?
  • Exploring imaging techniques to identify biologically and clinically relevant tumor areas as a starting material for TIL 
  • Determining the quality of antigen-specific T-cell responses associated with the original location in the starting tissue material

11:30 am Circulating Tumor Reactive T-Cells (cTRLs) – Characteristics & Novel Approach to Isolation

Synopsis

  • Utilizing IsoQore technology for effective isolation of cTRLs from blood as a means of non-invasive sample collection
  • Key characteristics and advantages of cTRLs 

Harvesting the Wealth of TILs: Navigating the Commercial Landscape

12:00 pm From Bedside to Bankside: Exploring the Commercial Potential of TIL as a Therapeutic Pillar

  • Yang Liu Co-Founder, Hervor Therapeutics New!

Synopsis

  • Commercial positioning of TIL in I/O
  • Key strategies to ensure TILs are commercially viable for developers
  • Opportunities for biotech companies to leverage their technology for licensing

12:30 pm Lunch Break & Networking

1:30 pm Reverting TIL Exhaustion to Generate a TIL Product with More Stemness-Like T-Cells & a Broader T-Cell Repertoire to Improve Clinical Outcome

Synopsis

  • Mapping T-cell specificities against tumor associated and HPV-derived antigens in TIL therapy products in cervical cancer
  • Key strategies for ex vivo enrichment of tumor-reactive TILs including reinvigorating exhausted TILs and selective expansion
  • Arming T-cells against oxidative stress preserving killing functionality in the hostile tumor microenvironment

2:00 pm Engineering Tumor-Targeting T-Cells to Overcome the Tolerance Barriers in Cancer Treatment

Synopsis

  • Exploring genetic-enhancing modifiers (GEMs) as a platform to modify TIL function and the TME
  • Enhancing TIL killing and persistence in the TME through modulation

Understanding of Adverse Events for Improved Patient Treatment & Clinical Retention

1:30 pm Patient Selection & Adverse Event Management for Solid Tumor TIL Therapy

Synopsis

  • Criteria for appropriate patient selection
  • Considerations for bridging therapy
  • Identification and management of treatment-related adverse events

2:00 pm Panel Discussion: Evaluating Current Treatment Procedures to Identify Gaps & Opportunities in Treatment Protocols

  • Markus Maeurer Professor, Champalimaud Foundation
  • George Coukos Head of Departement of Oncology, Director Ludwig Institute, Lausanne branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
  • Nicholas P Restifo Chief Scientist, Head of R&D, Marble Therapeutics
  • Rodabe Amaria Professor, MD Anderson Cancer Center New!

Synopsis

  • Evaluating the need for lymphodepletion and other pre-treatment protocols
  • How do we determine timing and order of treatment procedures when prioritizing the patient?
  • How do treatment protocols differ between different patients?

2:30 pm Afternoon Break & Refreshments

Boosting Understanding of TIL & Solid Tumor Mechanisms to Develop an Effective TIL Product

3:30 pm Optimizing Different Cell Populations for an Effective TIL Product

  • Andrea Aran Postdoctoral researcher, Hospital Clinic Barcelona New!

Synopsis

  • Evaluating important differences between cell types such as CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells for a well-rounded TIL effective product
  • How can we select different cell types and ensure consistent long-term maintenance and proliferation
  • What is the role of dendritic cells in TIL Therapy products?

4:00 pm Exploring the Characteristics of Gamma Delta TIL to Treat Patients with Solid Tumors

  • Michael Lotze Professor & Assistant Vice Chancellor of Surgery, Immunology & Bioengineering, Sponsored Training Grants, UPitt

Synopsis

  • Epithelial normally serve as mucosal barriers, sites for selective transport and harbor immune cells including gamma delta T-cells
  • Gamma delta T-cells diminish with age, coincident with increased epithelial tumor cells
  • Gamma delta TIL specifically recognize autologous tumor equivalent or better than alpha beta TIL

4:30 pm Understanding of TIL Mechanisms for Successful Targeting of Potent T-Cells

  • George Coukos Head of Departement of Oncology, Director Ludwig Institute, Lausanne branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

Synopsis

  • Understanding the tumor microenvironment of origin that impacts the quality of T-cell product
  • Understanding the molecular ingredients of TIL product potency
  • Understanding the state dynamics of T-cells upon expansion and transfer
  • Enhancing TIL product potency by selectively enriching for tumor specific T-cells

5:00 pm Closing Remarks

5:10 pm End of Conference