Immunotherapy has been a revolution in cancer treatment. The objective is to induce the immune system to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. Innate Pharma has specialized in immunotherapy since its inception in 1999.
Recent developments in immunotherapy have focused on the generation of a tumor antigen-specific T cell response and have led to an unprecedented change in the treatment paradigm of many cancers. Despite these successes, the breadth and durability of the clinical benefit achieved has been limited to a subset of patients and tumor types.
Our innovative approach to immuno-oncology aims to broaden and enhance an anti-tumor immune responses by leveraging both the adaptive and innate immune systems.
The immune system is a host defense system that protects the body against foreign invaders, such as viral and bacterial pathogens, and plays a role in cancer prevention by eliminating mutated cells before they become tumors. It is a complex system that can be divided into two collaborative arms:
The innate immune system is the first barrier of the immune system. It provides the first response to a pathological threat and subsequently helps to mobilize the second arm of the immune system: the adaptive immunity.
Innate Pharma has occupied a unique position in this field. Innate’s scientists have published research in multiple scientific journals, underlining our expertise in NK cell modulation and commitment to the highest quality science (see our publications).
The adaptive immune system is part of the second wave of the immune response, in which T-cells and B-cells, that recognize specific pathogenic antigens, rapidly expand and eliminate infection or mutated cells. The adaptive immunity generates “memory” that enables a faster response to a secondary infection.
As part of the innate immune system, NK cells are involved in the body’s first defense line. They have the ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. NK cells also produce cytokines and chemokines that shape a multicellular immune response involving dendritic cells and T cells, and ultimately lead to a long lasting immune control of tumors.