Blue Bees Therapeutics address the field of anti-immune check-point immunotherapies using a breakthrough immune response potentiating technology

Blue Bees Therapeutics technology consists of protein complexes combining an L1 ligand of a receptor selectively expressed on the surface of immune cells, with an L2 ligand of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans (HSPGs). HSPGs represent a family of molecules ubiquitously expressed by most cells. They often act as co-receptors promoting cell signaling and can thus modify receptor-mediated activation (Xie et al., 2019, Cell Signal., 54:115-121). Our L1-L2 complexes take advantage of these co-receptor properties.

Potentiation of immune cell activation occurs through binding of L2 to the HSPG co-receptor subsequent to binding of L1 to its specific receptor. It leads to expansion of large populations of immune cells in vivo, in particular dendritic cells, which contribute to anti-tumor immune response. In addition, when coupled to an Ag, such domains can boost the specific immune response in vitro and in vivo and improve tumor control (Knittel et al., 2016, Vaccine, 34(27):3093-3101).

Blue Bees Therapeutics technology allows to produce a variety of first-in class anti-immune check-point immunotherapies specific to existing or new immune check-points

Immune cells express a wide array of receptors that might contribute to immune cell activation and thus might behave as immune check-points. However, L1 antibody ligands that bind to these receptors do not always trigger a sufficient signaling for an appropriate activation. This limitation is waived by associating the L1 antibody ligands with the L2 HPSG ligand that increases signaling.

Blue Bees Therapeutics technology allows to easily create a variety of L1-L2 complexes against a wide array of receptors. These L1-L2 complexes can be used to screen receptor-mediated activation of different immune cell types as well as the impact on tumor control. This selection process leads to the definition of new first-in class immune checkpoints immunotherapies specific to existing or new immune check-points.