BriaCell’s Subsidiary, BriaPro, Files Patent Application for Immuno-Oncology Platform with Novel Multitargeting Agents
- TILsRx platform designed to overcome immune suppression and T cell exhaustion to activate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)
- Multivalent technology enables simultaneous engagement of multiple cancer-associated and immune pathway targets
- A preferred tolerability profile is expected due to selective cancer cell targeting within the tumor microenvironment (TME)
- TILsRx platform early agents include antibodies to B7-H3, an immune checkpoint found in several cancers including prostate, lung, breast, pancreatic, and ovarian
PHILADELPHIA and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXW, BCTXZ), (TSX: BCT) (“BriaCell”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, and its majority owned subsidiary, BriaPro Therapeutics Corp. (“BriaPro”), are pleased to announce that BriaPro is developing novel multivalent agents for cancer treatment. BriaPro has filed a provisional patent application for the underlying platform referred to as “TILsRx”.
The TILsRx platform enables simultaneous engagement of multiple tumor-associated and immune pathway targets. Multivalent agents (including antibodies, soluble receptors and cytokines) address immune suppression and T cell exhaustion often seen with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and aim to improve T cell activation and persistence in the tumor microenvironment. Designed to activate TILs and enhance TIL binding to tumor cells as well as block immune checkpoints that suppress anti-tumor responses, TILsRx agents are multifunctional in their cancer killing actions. Specific elements in TILsRx agents include soluble CD80, which has a dual function as an immune checkpoint inhibitor and as an immunostimulator, anti-CD3, which is a potent T cell activator, IL-21, which is an enhancer of cytotoxic T cell function, and anti-STEAP1 (STEAP1 is a cancer antigen expressed in prostate cancer among others). An early candidate target is B7-H3, a tumor antigen which is overexpressed in prostate, lung, breast, pancreatic, and ovarian cancer while minimally expressed in normal tissue.
“We have developed novel multivalent anti-cancer agents which we expect to be both highly selective and highly effective, maximizing on-target efficacy while minimizing off-target toxicity to provide improved clinical responses in multiple indications,” stated Miguel Lopez-Lago, PhD, BriaCell and BriaPro CSO.
“The TILsRx platform reflects our goal to develop an effective and safe class of therapeutics for cancer patients. TILsRx agents combine shared core components that improve manufacturing efficiency with elements that target specific cell surface antigens. This strategy provides the flexibility to include new immunotherapy targets identified in the future. We look forward to advancing this exciting technology through pre-clinical and clinical stages,” stated Markus D. Lacher, PhD, a key inventor of the technology.
“Our advanced multivalent technology provides us with a platform to quickly expand our proprietary pipeline of novel immuno-oncology programs in BriaPro in a cost-effective manner,” stated Dr. William V. Williams, BriaPro and BriaCell President & CEO. “We anticipate that the multivalent approach will have activity against multiple types of cancers and may also synergize with BriaCell’s cell-based cancer vaccine programs.”
About BriaCell Therapeutics Corp.
BriaCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care. More information is available at https://briacell.com/.
About BriaPro Therapeutics Corp.
BriaPro is a pre-clinical stage immunotherapy company developing binding agents and proteins with the intention to boost the ability of the body’s own cancer-fighting cells to destroy cancerous tumors.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements, including those about the TILsRx platform providing a preferred tolerability profile due to its selective cancer cell targeting; the TILsRx platform’s ability to be both highly selective and highly effective, maximizing on-target efficacy while minimizing off-target toxicity to provide improved clinical responses in multiple indications; BriaPro further advancing the TILsRx platform through pre-clinical and clinical stages; the TILsRx platform having activity against multiple types of cancers; and the TILsRx platform’s potential to synergize with BriaCell’s cell-based cancer vaccine programs, are based on BriaCell and BriaPro’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties” in BriaCell and BriaPro’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, under the heading “Risk Factors” in BriaCell’s most recent Annual Information Form, and under “Risks and Uncertainties” in: (i) BriaCell’s other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and (ii) BriaPro’s other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, all of which are available under BriaCell and BriaPro’s profiles on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on BriaCell’s profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date. BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. and BriaPro Therapeutics Corp. undertake no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
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Contact Information
BriaCell and BriaPro Contact:
William V. Williams, MD
President & CEO, BriaCell and BriaPro
1-888-485-6340
info@briacell.com
Investor Relations Contact:
investors@briacell.com