iBoost
LNP-based Precision Immunotherapy Platform (Next-Generation In-situ Cancer Vaccine)
Unmet Medical Needs
Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a serious condition that occurs when cancer cells spread to the peritoneum, the abdominal lining, usually in individuals with advanced stage cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, ovaries or appendix. Although treatment options such as chemotherapy and surgery exist, there is a significant medical need for more effective treatments, earlier detection methods, and better supportive care. As peritoneal carcinomatosis affects around 100,000 people worldwide, it is crucial to invest in further research to develop better treatment options and improve overall outcomes for individuals affected by this condition.
iBoost (LNP-based Precision Immunotherapy Platform)
NanoStar utilizes proprietary technologies to decipher immune escape mechanisms and overcome complex defense systems of cancers. iBoost is an innovative immunomodulator delivery platform based on LNP technology, which enables localized modulation of the immune system, precipitating a systemic immune response for previously intractable cancers. iBoost combined with chemotherapy can trigger specific anti-tumor immune responses without the toxicities associated with traditional standard-of-care treatment or immunotherapies.
Unlike personalized cancer vaccines, iBoost provides a cost- and time-efficient healthcare solution since it does not require pre-identification or inclusion of tumor-specific antigens. It reprograms the tumor immune microenvironment into an incubator for producing vaccines, benefiting more cancer patients.
In preclinical proof-of-concept studies, we employed iBoost LNP, encapsulating Resiquimod (R848), a toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist, in combination with oxaliplatin, showing promising results as an anti-tumor agent and in-situ cancer vaccine. iBoost has the potential for cancer immunotherapy, confirming its safety and effectiveness for treating peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer. As a component of PC therapy in combination with oxaliplatin, iBoost primarily targets R848 at dendritic cells in the peritoneum fluid, enhancing the antitumor efficacy in syngeneic PC models by priming CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and increasing IFN-alpha release in the TME.
