TC BioPharm Announces Plans for Mpox Treatment Studies

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world learned the importance of being ready for outbreaks. While COVID infections are still spreading, many are already keeping an eye out for the next potential outbreak. There have been several possibilities, including Mpox, which was at the center of a global outbreak in 2022-2023.

TC BioPharm announced that it has plans to launch pre-clinical studies for Mpox treatments.¹ Specifically, the company plans to begin work on TCB 008, an unmodified cell therapy that utilizes activated and expanded gamma delta T cells.

In a press release, TC BioPharm CEO Bryan Kobel said, “There are a number of academic papers highlighting a successful immune response to viral infection being heavily reliant on the presence of gamma delta t-cells. We continue to look at avenues to expand the therapeutic applications for TCB008 and moving into rapid response for aggressive viral infections is an arena we believe our therapeutic can be immediately impactful. The ability to deliver a frozen/thawed product to these patients to prevent not just the death or extended viral infection in these patients, but also potentially slow the spread of the infectious disease and contain the issue from becoming a global pandemic, would represent a massive global opportunity and market size. We look forward to updating investors as we further this program."

TC BioPharma also has other plans for the compound. Earlier this month, the company announced that it will be dosing five new patients as part of its ACHIEVE Phase 2b trial in the UK.² The trial is investigating the impact that TCB008 has on patients with AML or MDS/AML.

In a press release issued at the time, Kobel said, “TCBP is excited to announce our rapid progression in the ACHIEVE Phase 2b trial with very strong enrolment in the second part of the trial using the higher dose. TCB008 is potentially a game-changing monotherapy for blood cancers, and the strong recruitment and patient retention rates are testament to clinician/physician interest in TCB008 as a monotherapy in leukemia. We're proud of the milestones accomplished to date, having rapidly dosed 6 patients with an additional 10 patients lined up. It is encouraging to see re-dosing of several patients, which we believe reflects positively on the steps the organization took in 2023 and early 2024. TCBP remains poised to execute on our clinical trial plans in 2024 and into 2025, including ACHIEVE and ACHIEVE2, as well as our expanded manufacturing capabilities to enhance our operational capabilities and our economic efficiencies."

Late in August of this year, TC BioPharm announced that the European Patent Office granted it a patent covering the use of modified delta cells for the treatment of cancer and viral indications.³

At the time, Kobel said, “We are pleased to further expand our patent portfolio at TCBP with this European patent for Modified Gamma Delta t-cells. TCBP continues to focus on our immediate applications for TCB008 while developing future high value gamma delta assets for other indications such as solid tumors. We believe gamma deltas can be a high impact therapeutic when modified with the potential to outpace current CAR and modified t-cells in safety and efficacy, patent protecting these approaches gives us a competitive moat and further value in a potential acquisition scenario."

Sources

1. TC BioPharm Intends to Launch Preclinical Studies for Treatment of Monkey Pox. TC BioPharm. September 9, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tc-biopharm-intends-to-launch-preclinical-studies-for-treatment-of-monkey-pox-302241204.html
2. TCBP Announces Dosing of 5 New Patients in ACHIEVE. TC BioPharm. September 3, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcbp-announces-dosing-of-5-new-patients-in-achieve-302236052.html
3. TC BioPharm Announces Grant of European Patent Covering Use of Modified Gamma Delta Cells for the Treatment of Cancer and Viral Indications. TC BioPharm. August 28, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tc-biopharm-announces-grant-of-european-patent-covering-use-of-modified-gamma-delta-cells-for-the-treatment-of-cancer-and-viral-indications-302233266.html