HyperAcute-Breast

HyperAcute-Breast (NLG8195) is an allogeneic whole-cell immunotherapy developed by NewLink Genetics for the treatment of breast cancer. The platform utilizes human cancer cell lines that have been genetically engineered to express the enzyme alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase, which catalyzes the addition of alpha-1,3-galactosyl (alpha-gal) epitopes to surface proteins and lipids. Because humans naturally produce high levels of antibodies against the alpha-gal carbohydrate (due to its presence on gut flora but absence on human cells), the injection of these modified cells triggers a hyperacute rejection response. This response involves complement activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), leading to the rapid destruction of the vaccine cells and the recruitment of professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). These APCs then process and present the broad spectrum of tumor-associated antigens from the vaccine cells to the patient's own T-cells, effectively breaking immune tolerance and inducing a systemic immune response against the patient's endogenous breast cancer cells.

Other names

HyperAcute Breast Cancer Vaccinealpha-gal breast cancer vaccine