Our approach starts with identifying evolutionary T cell adaptations found within human biology, resulting in increased T cell proliferation, persistence, and function.
We have developed a suite of proprietary potency enhancement technologies that have the potential to address various challenges that have limited the ability of adoptive T cell therapies to treat solid tumors.
cells-1 To effectively treat solid tumors, adoptive T cells must overcome multiple obstacles, including poor T cell proliferation and persistence, T cell exhaustion, limited T cell infiltration of the tumor, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
pre-selected by cancer evolution
Moonlight’s founders examined a series of ‘experiments of nature’ – T cell disease states and their underlying mutations – compiling a library of genetic events identified in T cells. They hypothesized that the T cell mutations they had identified evolved as a result of the same selective pressures facing anti-tumor therapeutic T cells. Indeed, under similar selective pressures that therapeutic T cells may encounter while confronting tumors, the candidate gene variants uncovered dramatically increase the potency of T cells targeting a variety of tumors in model systems.
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cells-2 Others have focused on increasing/decreasing expression of wild-type genes or developing synthetic genes to address the challenges of targeting solid tumors. In contrast, we are exploring a wide range of genetic adaptations that selectively evolve in T cells in humans and under conditions that mimic tumor microenvironments. We then deliver these adaptations to therapeutic T cells to supercharge their attack on tumors.