Small science with outsized impact
We use both NK-cell and T-cell engagers simultaneously, each targeting specific tumour or B-cell antigens. The mRNA for each antibody is encapsulated into lipid nanoparticles. Once delivered, patients generate their own therapeutics, eliminating the need for commercial antibody manufacturing.
Pipeline example: The nano-advantage in myeloma care
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, which are specialized white blood cells in the bone marrow. In a healthy body, plasma cells make diverse antibodies to fight infections. In myeloma, cells originating from a single plasma cell grow uncontrollably. These crowd out healthy blood cells and metabolically lead to bone destruction, kidney failure, and a crippled immune system.Legacy and recent treatmentsHistorically, myeloma has been treated with classical cellular poisons (chemotherapy), which have had minimal effect and significant side effects. Over the last 20 years, modern approaches to treating Myeloma have evolved that harness the patient's own immune system (immunotherapy).
Short-lived
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-grown proteins injected into the blood to find and stick to cancer cells. Their effect is usually short-lived and requires repeated injections. Cancer cells can “escape” being killed by antibodies by evolving to drop the surface proteins to which the antibodies bind.
High cost
Antigen escape
CAR-T cell therapy involves removing a patient’s immune cells (T-cells), genetically re-engineering them in a lab to hunt cancer, then returning them. This process takes weeks, and because each dose is custom-made, the cost is high. Many patients are too sick to wait for this customized cell product.
Bispecific engagers are “match-maker” proteins that bind an immune cell on one side and a cancer cell on the other. They usually target one specific marker (BCMA). Because cancer adapts, that marker can become invisible to the drug (antigen escape). This is the main reason patients relapse.
Though much better than chemotherapy, each immunotherapeutic approach has limitations:
The small and efficient Myellama solution
Myellama Therapeutics is developing multi-specific anti-cancer immune therapeutics using its proprietary discovery and development platform.
Our approach uses antibodies from llamas and other camelids. These small antibodies are easy to produce due to their natural single-chain structure.
Because of their simplicity, they can be delivered to patients using mRNA/LNP technology, which can be more efficient and cost-effective than traditional therapies. Once absorbed, the body's natural machinery produces the therapeutic antibody, which is then equipped to destroy malignant cells.
Myellama has mRNA/LNP mono-therapeutics containing proprietary BCMA, TACI, plasma cell antigens – each formulated as T-lymphocyte binders (using a proprietary scFvCD3 antibody) or as NK binders (using a proprietary NKp30 VHH). To maximize therapeutic efficacy, Myellama combines bispecific antibodies which engage T and NK cells. These antibodies are blended into lipid nanoparticles in varying ratios to maximize the immune-mediated therapeutic effect while minimizing toxicity. This unique technique is broadly applicable to all cancer immunotherapies, which could change how we manage the disease.
Rather than administering a protein antibody, which requires intensive manufacturing, we are perfecting mRNA delivery. The technology and resource use are small, while the clinical reach is expansive.
Fund the innovation
We are looking for investors to advance our family of products to clinical testing. This first round of funding will enable a Health Canada Clinical Trial Application and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration New Drug Application for our lead product: a combination T-cell and NK-cell engager targeting myeloma cells.