Therapeutics derived from components of the immune system are an increasingly prevalent approach in oncology. This immuno-oncology strategy has moved from the first generation of humanized monoclonal antibodies through complex reformatting of antibody and other protein domains to the arrival of cell therapies on the market. As immuno-oncology modalities become ever more sophisticated in both their design and their manipulation of the immunology functions, new challenges emerge, and old challenges are revisited. This extends through the need for robust efficacy models in discovery, ensuring appropriate preclinical study design, and appropriate assays to support in early clinical phases. Manipulation of the immune system comes with significant challenges. We must apply a broad set of tools to understand the physiology and pharmacology of the therapeutic and ensure that the risks of enhanced or unanticipated pharmacology are captured and meaningfully assessed.
On May 14th, get an overview of the immunotherapeutic landscape and learn how to build the most risk appropriate path to the clinic. Join your colleagues and industry experts for a full day of stimulating presentations and case studies that highlight strategies to accelerate your program from discovery through preclinical studies and into the clinic.
On the afternoon of May 13th, there will be a guided tour of our Lyon facility that concludes with a wine tasting reception – an opportunity to network with colleagues and Charles River scientists. This is a unique event you won’t want to miss.
Wednesday, 13 May
| 15:00 – 18:00 | Optional tour of our Lyon facility, followed by a wine-tasting reception A shuttle bus will depart the train station: La Part-Dieu, Lyon center at 14:00. |
Thursday, 14 May
| 8:30 – 9:00 | Welcome and coffee |
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Opening remarks |
| 9:15 – 10:00 | The first-in-human (FIH) package and dose selection of our new tri-specific T cell engaged in Multiple Myeloma | Philippe Detilleux, Sanofi |
| 10:00 – 10:45 | Oncolytic viruses and personalized viral vector-based vaccines, recent progresses in anti-tumor virotherapy | Eric Quéméneur, Transgene |
| 10:45 – 11:00 | Break |
| 11:00 – 11:45 | Title and Speaker TBA |
| 11:45 – 12:15 | Title TBA | Rajni Fagg, GSK |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Networking Lunch |
| 13:15 – 14:00 | A BiTE®-sized guide to Amgen’s T cell engager platform: how to get from Antigen to Bedside | Oliver Thomas, Amgen |
| 14:00 – 14:45 | Clinical biomarkers | Russel Garland, Charles River |
| 14:45 – 15:00 | Break |
| 15:00 – 15:45 | CAR-T display libraries: an ultra-high-throughput functional screen for CAR-T activity | Speaker TBA |
| 15:45 – 16:45 | Roundtable: Do we understand enough when it comes to translational and the immunological safety assessment of immunotherapy/immunostimulatory drugs? | Moderator: Jacques Descotes, Immunotoxicology Consulting Group |
| 16:45 – 17:00 | Closing Remarks |
Russell Garland, PhD | Group Leader, Analytical Services, Charles River
Clinical biomarkers
Whilst First-in-Human clinical trials are primarily concerned with safety, expanding their remit to include study of exploratory biomarkers can also add value. Exploratory biomarkers can indicate efficacy and confirm mode of action. Building this information in from an early stage can assist in go/no-go decisions and can increase the likelihood of success. The talk will outline examples of our experience of exploratory biomarkers in the context of immunological readouts.
Eric Quéméneur, PhD | Executive VP, Chief Scientific Officer, Transgene
Oncolytic viruses and personalized viral vector-based vaccines, recent progresses in anti-tumor virotherapy
Eric Quéméneur was trained both as a biochemical engineer (PhD, Lyon 1989 ; HDR, Paris 1999) and as a pharmacist (PharmD, Lyon 1990). His professional career in R&D has been balanced between government organizations (CNRS, Army Health Service, CEA) and industry (Biomerieux, Hoechst AG, Cisbio international, Transgene), always focusing on the transfer of advanced biochemical concepts into concrete applications. As a scientist, his major scientific contributions were in the four fields of protein folding, enzyme re-engineering, structural proteomics of metal-binding proteins, and virus engineerig, with major outcomes in bio-manufacturing, toxicology, and cancer immunotherapy, respectively. Beside designing and leading major R&D or tech transfer programs, he has induced the launch of 3 companies, and has been member of the boards of several bioclusters, VC funds, and national committees. He joined Transgene at the end of 2014 to refocus the company on its drug development pipeline, and to promote open innovation. Transgene’s portfolio now includes several armed-oncolytic viruses (invirIO™ platform), advanced cancer vaccines (myvac™), and immune-boosting viral vectors, all in early partnerships with major companies, or specialized biotechs.
Jacques Descotes, MD, PharmD, PhD | Vice President of Research and Development, Immunotoxicology Consulting Group
Roundtable: Do we understand enough when it comes to translational and the immunological safety assessment of immunotherapy/immunostimulatory drugs?
Professor Emeritus, Claude Bernard University of Lyon, Eurotox Registered Toxicologist, US Academy of Toxicological Sciences.