ATIR™ is under development to prevent acute Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), one of the major complications of allogeneic bone marrow transplantations (or stem cell transplantations). In allogeneic transplantations, the donor is not the patient him/herself but a third party. Acute GvHD is a condition caused by the immune cells in the graft of the donor attacking the patient’s tissues and organs. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantations today require that the patient and donor immune systems (HLA type) are highly similar in order to reduce the risk of acute GvHD. Therefore, these transplantations rely on matching donors. However, even with closely matched donors, acute GvHD remains a significant complication that requires the use of immunosuppressants for a prolonged period after the transplantation procedure has taken place. By preventing the occurrence of acute GvHD, ATIR™ enables the use of a mismatched donor (including the donor immune system) and consequently addresses one of the major limitations in bone marrow transplantations, which is the timely availability of a donor. In addition, ATIR™ also eliminates the need for immune suppressants post transplantation, allowing the early reconstitution of the patient’s immune system. This addresses another limitation in bone marrow transplantations, an early immune system for the patients to fight infections.
ATIR™ is designed to selectively eliminate alloreactive T-cells from mismatched donor transplants that would otherwise attack the patient’s body and cause acute GvHD. ATIR™ is also designed to spare useful donor immune cells that can fight infections and remaining tumor cells, allowing rapid and safe immune reconstitution post transplantation.
Being able to have immediate access to a donor for those patients that are in need of an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation constitutes a major breakthrough in the field of bone marrow transplantation. Moreover, it would prevent time consuming and costly searches for a corresponding matched donor.
Offering an early immune system post transplantation can potentially improve the overall outcome of a bone marrow transplantation.
ATIR™ is designed to selectively eliminate alloreactive T-cells from mismatched donor transplants that would otherwise attack the patient’s body and cause acute GvHD. ATIR™ is also designed to spare useful donor immune cells that can fight infections and remaining tumor cells, allowing rapid and safe immune reconstitution post transplantation.
Being able to have immediate access to a donor for those patients that are in need of an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation constitutes a major breakthrough in the field of bone marrow transplantation. Moreover, it would prevent time consuming and costly searches for a corresponding matched donor.
Offering an early immune system post transplantation can potentially improve the overall outcome of a bone marrow transplantation.
