NANTES, France—OSE Immunotherapeutics announced recently that its DC-TARGET project has been selected by the French National Research Agency (ANR) to be awarded a grant up to €800,000 following the “AAPG 2019” call for proposals assessment process. 
The aim of this program is to identify new targets of interest expressed by myeloid cells (tumor associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressive cells, dendritic cells). These suppressive immune cells play a major role in both tumor immune escape and in their invasive process. In order to discover new targets of therapeutic interest in the tumor microenvironment, the role of each cell will be characterized in depth by single cell RNAseq and gene editing.
Continue reading below...
ExplainersWhy does immunotherapy work better for some cancers than others?
A powerful tool in modern oncology, immunotherapy doesn’t work the same for everyone. Researchers are exploring why and developing ways to improve its effectiveness.
Read MoreOnce the targets identified and clinically validated, OSE Immunotherapeutics will focus on translation of the research study findings through the development of specific monoclonal antibodies that are able to block the deleterious targets identified.
In particular, this immuno-oncology research program will explore tissues from triple negative breast cancer, a cancer with a high risk of progression.
“This new collaboration with the Léon Bérard cancer research center, a leader in modern oncology treatments combining translational and immunological research platforms, is focused on an aggressive breast cancer with a strong need for medical innovation. OSE is already strongly involved clinically in the field of myeloid cell-based therapies for cancers,” said Alexis Peyroles, CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics.
