Immatics Biotechnologies this week said it has completed work on the next generation of its proprietary antigen discovery engine, XPresident, allowing for the first time the direct quantification of tumor-associated peptides that are present on the surface of tumor cells.
In a statement, the German firm said this could help researchers identify new antigens and novel targets that they would not be able to discover with classical proteomics and genomics approaches.
XPresident was developed by Toni Weinschenk, a co-founder of Immatics, and combines mass spectrometry, genomics, biochemistry, and immunology. According to the company it has generated a range of cancer vaccine products in clinical and pre-clinical development.
Since XPresident's introduction in 2002, its capacity has improved by a factor of more than 10 and the sensitivity level is at the femtomolar level, the company said.
"The new direct quantification capacity is providing Immatics with an additional important feature to speed up antigen and peptide identification and selection," according to Immatics. The company's discovery engine "is generating validated candidates for further clinical development across a broad range of cancer indications at an unprecedented speed."
Immatics develops immunotherapies against cancer. Its lead products are IMA901 for the treatment of renal cell cancer, and IMA910 directed against colon cancer. Both are in phase II clinical studies.
Founded in 2000, Immatics has raised more than €54 million ($75 million) in private equity in two financing rounds.