The present invention relates to methods for developing engineered T-cells for immunotherapy that are non-alloreactive. The present invention relates to methods for modifying T-cells by inactivating both genes encoding T-cell receptor and an immune checkpoint gene to unleash the potential of the immune response. This method involves the use of specific rare cutting endonucleases, in particular TALE-nucleases (TAL effector endonuclease) and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, to precisely target a selection of key genes in T-cells, which are available from donors or from culture of primary cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer and viral infections.

A method of expanding TCRalpha deficient T-cells by expressing pTalpha or functional variants thereof into said cells, thereby restoring a functional CD3 complex. This method is particularly useful to enhance the efficiency of immunotherapy using primary T-cells from donors. This method involves the use of pTalpha or functional variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides to expand TCRalpha deficient T-cells. Such engineered cells can be obtained by using specific rare-cutting endonuclease, preferably TALE-nucleases. The use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR), especially multi-chain CAR, in such engineered cells to target malignant or infected cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer and viral infections.

The invention provides improved T cell compositions and methods for manufacturing T cells. More particularly, the invention provides methods of T cell manufacturing that result in adoptive T cell immunotherapies with improved survival, expansion, and persistence in vivo.

The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding a specific binding molecule capable of binding an h TERT peptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 when the peptide is presented by a Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), wherein the specific binding molecule comprises a first polypeptide comprising a variable region of an α-chain and a second polypeptide comprising a variable region of a β-chain of a T-cell receptor (TCR), and wherein: (a) the variable region of an α-chain comprises CDR sequences CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 which respectively comprise the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3 and 4; and (b) the variable region of a β-chain comprises CDR sequences CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 which respectively comprise the sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 5, 6 and 7. Recombinant constructs, vectors and host cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules are also provided, as are specific binding molecules encoded by such nucleic acid molecules. The present invention has utility in the treatment of cancer.

This disclosure relates to improving CAR-T expansion and/or survival using CD-3 antibodies alone or in combination with other co-stimulatory molecules such as an anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, an anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody, an IL-17 monoclonal antibody or specific inhibitors of signaling pathways of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR).

Provided herein are methods of producing engineered T cell compositions enriched for CD57 negative and/or CD27 positive T cells, such as from a plurality of donors. In some embodiments, the T cells are engineered with a recombinant receptor, such as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Also provided herein are engineered T cell compositions containing T cells enriched for CD57 negative and/or CD27 positive T cells derived from a plurality of different donors, including compositions in which the T cells are engineered with or express a recombinant receptor (e.g. CAR). Also provided are methods of using the engineered T cell compositions in adoptive therapy, including in connection for cancer immunotherapy, such as for allogeneic therapies or for administration to one or more subjects in which the T cells are not derived from the subject(s) to whom the compositions are administered.

The present disclosure provides methods of preparing immune cells, e.g., T cells and/or NK cells, comprising contacting the cells with programmable cell-signaling scaffolds in a medium comprising at least about 5 mM potassium ion. In some aspects, the methods disclosed herein increase the number of less-differentiated cells in the population of cells. In some aspects, the cultured cells are engineered, e.g., to comprise a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or an engineered T cell receptor (TCR). In some aspects, the cells are administered to a subject in need thereof.

This disclosure provides methods of making immune effector cells (for example, T cells, NK cells) that comprise (i) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a controllable chimeric antigen receptor (CCAR) or (ii) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a CAR and a regulatory molecule, and compositions generated by such methods.

Methods of expanding peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from blood of patients with hematological malignancies, including lymphomas and leukemias, genetic modifications of expanded PBLs to incorporate chimeric antigen receptors, genetically modified T cell receptors, and other genetic modifications, and uses of such expanded and/or modified PBLs in the treatment of diseases such as cancers and hematological malignancies are disclosed herein.

A method of expanding TCRalpha deficient T-cells by expressing pTalpha or functional variants thereof into said cells, thereby restoring a functional CD3 complex. This method is particularly useful to enhance the efficiency of immunotherapy using primary T-cells from donors. This method involves the use of pTalpha or functional variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides to expand TCRalpha deficient T-cells. Such engineered cells can be obtained by using specific rare-cutting endonuclease, preferably TALE-nucleases. The use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR), especially multi-chain CAR, in such engineered cells to target malignant or infected cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer and viral infections.