Provided for herein in several embodiments are immune cell-based compositions comprising BCMA-directed chimeric antigen receptors (CAR). In several embodiments, the immune-cell based compositions also target an additional tumor marker and/or an additional epitope of BCMA. In several embodiments, the BCMA-directed CAR is expressed in a Natural Killer cell. In several embodiments, combinations of BCMA-CAR-expressing NK cells are administered in conjunction with, for example CAR-expressing NK cells and/or CAR-expressing T cells that are directed to an additional cancer marker and/or an additional epitope of BCMA. Also provided for herein are methods and uses of the chimeric antigen receptors in immunotherapy.

The present disclosure relates to polynucleotides encoding a chimeric polypeptide comprising a c-Jun polypeptide, a ROR1-binding protein, and a truncated EGF receptor. Also provided are cells (e.g., T cells) expressing CARs comprising a ROR1-binding protein and overexpressing a c-Jun polypeptide. Overexpression of c-Jun in CAR T cells confers improved properties, e.g., reducing or preventing exhaustion.

Combination therapy of a cancer with a multi-specific binding protein that bind a tumor associated antigen, the NKG2D receptor, and CD16, in combination with a second anti-cancer agent are described. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions of the multi-specific binding protein, and therapeutic methods useful for the treatment of cancer in combination with a second anti-cancer agent.

Novel neoantigen-eliciting antibody drug conjugates are disclosed. These compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, isomers, or tautomers thereof are useful for the treatment of disorders, including but not limited to pancreatic cancer and other check point positive cancers. More particularly, these compounds may comprise biologically active polypeptides or hormones modified to include the attachment of therapeutic compounds using linkers. The compounds of the disclosure, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, isomers, or tautomers thereof, also comprise therapeutic compounds connected to linkers.

The invention relates to a new potency assay for characterizing the quality and activity of an immune cell expressing a chimeric antigen receptor, the kit to carry out this assay and uses thereof.

Natural killer cells are differentiated to an intraepithelial innate lymphoid cells (ielLC1)-like cell, with an increase in cytotoxic activity. Specifically, the disclosure provides a method for differentiating mammalian natural killer cells to adapt an ielLC1-like phenotype, the method comprising: differentiating peripheral natural killer (NK) cells in the presence of IL-15 and epithelial cells or plate coatings that mimic features of epithelial cells, to generate CD49a+ CD103+ cells having features and phenotype of ielLC1s, with enhanced cytotoxic activity and expression of Th1 type cytokines.

The disclosure provides multimeric proteins comprising three, four, or more monomer polypeptides, each comprising a first 4-1BB-targeting moiety, an oligomerization moiety, and optionally a linker. The monomer polypeptide may further comprise one or more additional targeting moieties. The oligomerization moiety promotes the trimerization, tetramerization, or higher state of oligomerization of the monomer polypeptides. Such multimeric proteins can be used in many pharmaceutical applications, for example, as anti-cancer agents and/or immune modulators. The present disclosure also concerns methods of making the multimeric proteins described herein as well as compositions comprising such multimeric proteins. The present disclosure further relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding such multimeric proteins and methods for the generation of such multimeric proteins and nucleic acid molecules. In addition, the application discloses therapeutic and/or diagnostic uses of such multimeric proteins as well as compositions comprising one or more of such multimeric proteins.

Methods of increasing T cell effector function in a T cell population are provided that involve inhibiting one or more genetic subunits of the SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase) gene regulation complex in the T cell population. Also provided are methods of using such T cell populations in the treatment of cancer patients.

Disclosed herein are circular RNAs and transfer vehicles, along with related compositions and methods of treatment. The circular RNAs can comprise group I intron fragments, spacers, an IRES, duplex forming regions, and/or an expression sequence, thereby having the features of improved expression, functional stability, low immunogenicity, ease of manufacturing, and/or extended half-life compared to linear RNA. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising such circular RNAs and transfer vehicles are particularly suitable for efficient protein expression in immune cells in vivo. Also disclosed are precursor RNAs and materials useful in producing the precursor or circular RNAs, which have improved circularization efficiency and/or are compatible with effective circular RNA purification methods.

Provided are a cell-mediated SARS-COV-2 vaccine and a preparation method therefor, the steps therefor including: the construction of a SARS-COV-2 specific antigen vector presented by stem cells, and the modification and assembly with the stem cells. Two weeks after mouse immunization, approximately 50% of the mice have in vivo antibodies that show a strong positive expression, and the most significant of which being an N-gene modified stem cell vaccine.