LUMICKS and Leucid Bio enter into a strategic collaboration

LUMICKS, a spin-off of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is pleased to announce a collaboration agreement with clinical-stage biotech company Leucid Bio, which seeks to utilize LUMICKS’ z-Movi® Cell Avidity Analyzer (z-Movi) to accelerate entry of immunotherapeutic candidates into clinical trials. The goal of the partnership is to evaluate the efficacy of Leucid Bio’s next-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells using the z-Movi and demonstrate the high predictability of in vivo outcomes of the instrument.

“We are thrilled that the z-Movi exceeded the initial expectations by reliably and quickly predicting the functionality of conventional CAR T-cells in vivo,” said Dr. Rogier Reijmers, Principal Scientist at LUMICKS. “Now, we’re excited to be part of the latest advancements and have our instrument streamlining the selection of the most effective next-generation CARs.”

Leucid Bio develops improved CAR T-cell therapies for solid and hematological malignancies, among which their latest products are based on a novel CAR model, called “parallel CAR” (pCAR). pCARs enhance T cell activation by introducing parallelly-coupled costimulatory domains (immune response activators) across the cell membrane, which elicits a superior response compared with conventional CARs. The companies will assess the cell avidity of pCARs for a quicker selection of lead candidates with improved anti-tumor activity.

Dr. John Maher, CSO at Leucid Bio, said “The z-Movi system has enabled us to rapidly rank CAR T-cells containing distinct targeting moieties in terms of their avidity for target cells. Since this relies on CAR T-cell to target cell interaction rather than more artificial alternatives, it allows us to pick the “Goldilocks binders” that achieve superior performance.”

LUMICKS is looking forward to the new partnership, which will help propel exciting immunotherapeutic advances with the potential to combat malignancies that are notoriously difficult to treat. The collaboration also marks a crucial step for LUMICKS by demonstrating how the z-Movi instrument is a critical asset for accelerating the pace of immunotherapeutic approvals.

About LUMICKS
LUMICKS is a leading life sciences company that develops equipment for dynamic single-molecule and cell avidity analysis, two emerging areas in biology research and immuno-oncology (IO). Built upon innovative technologies, such as optical tweezers, STED super-resolution, and acoustic force spectroscopy, LUMICKS’ tools facilitate the understanding of life to the smallest detail. Applying and measuring forces in biology enables real-time analysis of true biological mechanisms. This creates the crucial and yet unexplored bridge between structure and function at the molecular and cellular level. The latest technology in the company’s arsenal, the z-Movi® Cell Avidity Analyzer, enables the measurement and selection of immune cells based on their strength of interaction with cancer cells. This technology is game-changing for the development and application of IO therapies for the treatment of cancer.

About Leucid Bio
Leucid Bio is a pioneering cell therapy company with a pipeline of novel cell therapies developed using its proprietary engine. Leucid’s focus is on the development of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapies for patients with solid tumours and no treatment options. The company is backed by 20 years of research history and is led by an experienced, involved management team, supported by a diverse team of passionate and committed staff.