Immuno-oncology Resources Tailored for GEN Readers

The most translatable platform: mice

The hIL-2 NOG mouse, a super immunodeficient mouse that expresses the human IL-2 cytokine, is one example of a complex animal model that has been successfully employed to model CAR T-cell immunotherapy in HER2+ breast cancer and is available off-the-shelf. In one recent study using hIL-2 NOG mice, researchers were able to demonstrate significant CAR T-mediated anti-tumor efficacy in mice transplanted with PDX melanoma cell lines.

Additionally, Taconic’s immunodeficient NOG-EXL mice, which express human GM-CSF and IL-3 cytokines, were used to assess CAR T-cell therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. In addition to the hIL-2 NOG and NOG-EXL models, which are maintained in live colonies for easy access, Taconic has the most experienced model generation team in the industry that partners with researchers to create custom models tailored to their specific CAR T-cell therapy investigations.

Creating advanced CAR T-cell therapies requires extensive preclinical studies. However, by using animal models that approximate human disease, scientists are able to reduce the number of animals needed to elucidate how therapeutic candidates act upon disease in preclinical stages. Taconic’s commitment to the 3Rs principle—Replace, Reduce, and Refine—promotes the ethical use of animals in scientific research and exceeds US FDA and international animal use guidelines. Streamlining the preclinical to clinical oncology pipeline necessitates effective tools capable of capturing the intricacies of disease response to treatment in humans. Super immunodeficient and genetically engineered models are a uniquely valuable tool for oncology and autoimmune researchers seeking to develop novel therapeutics.