Selecta is advancing two complementary antigen-specific immunotherapies: induced tolerogenic Dendritic Cells (itDC) and targeted tolerogenic Synthetic Vaccine Particles (t²SVP™).

Induced tolerogenic Dendritic Cell (itDC) technology is based on restoring appropriate immune function by initiating immune tolerance specifically in the dendritic cells. Immature dendritic cells are isolated and co-cultured with immunomodulators and antigen to induce antigen-specific tolerogenic dendritic cells that can be re-injected into the donor. itDC has been successfully applied to pre-clinical disease models for multiple sclerosis and asthma and to human monocytes. Selecta is using the itDC approach for diseases where the specific antigens causing the undesired immune response are unknown, such as graft versus host disease.

Targeted tolerogenic Synthetic Vaccine Particle (t²SVP™) are nanoparticle immunotherapeutics designed to induce antigen-specific tolerance. The t2SVP™ products 'instruct' the immune system to prevent and suppress pro-inflammatory responses against the antigen presented in the nanoparticle, thereby enabling the desired immune system modulation without causing global immune suppression. Using expertise gained from the itDC technology and nanoparticle vaccines, Selecta has successfully optimized its particle based tolerogenic immunotherapeutics in pre-clinical proof of principle studies. Applications include autoimmune diseases, allergies, and orphan indications.

The image below illustrates the key pathways for Selecta’s antigen-specific tolerance approach.