30 November 2021 - - US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company Turnstone Biologics Corp has entered into a strategic multi-year research collaboration with Florida, US-based Moffitt Cancer Center for pre-clinical development of investigational tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapies, the company said.

The partnership will focus on new clinical candidates utilizing Turnstone's next-generation selected TIL approach in multiple solid tumor types, in addition to IND submission of Turnstone's lead TIL program, TIDAL-01.

Under the terms of the agreement, Moffitt will collaborate on the development of Turnstone's pipeline of selected TILs for the identification, enrichment and expansion of neoantigen reactive TILs in solid tumor indications, including melanoma, breast and colorectal cancers.

Furthermore, Turnstone will transfer their proprietary TIL manufacturing process to Moffitt to produce cell products for upcoming clinical studies of Turnstone's TIL product candidates.

Turnstone will provide financial support for research and development at Moffitt over the multi-year collaboration.

Turnstone's lead TIL therapy candidate, TIDAL-01, builds on the success of clinically validated treatment protocols while enriching for the most relevant T-cells for tumor eradication, preserving broad antigen diversity and minimizing time to treatment for patients, with the ultimate goal of extending the benefit of TIL therapy across a wider range of solid tumor types.

Turnstone aims to drive clinical efficacy in harder to treat, lower mutational burden cancer indications with its TIL platform. The TIDAL-01 program is expected to enter the clinic in early 2022.

Turnstone Biologics, a privately held clinical stage biotech company, is developing breakthrough cancer immunotherapies by advancing two platforms, both independently and in combination, that drive innate and adaptive tumor immunity to provide benefit to the millions of cancer patients underserved by current treatment options.

Turnstone's novel TIL therapy platform leverages clinically validated treatment protocols and has been specifically designed to extend beyond the use of bulk TILs to enrich for the most relevant T-cells for tumor eradication, preserving broad antigen diversity and minimizing time to treatment for patients.

Turnstone is expecting the lead TIL therapy candidate, TIDAL-01, to enter the clinic in early 2022.

Their proprietary vaccinia virus platform is engineered to drive coordinated immune activation, potent viral activity and local expression of encoded therapeutics.

The company has an ongoing Phase 1/2a trial in solid tumors (RAPTOR) for its leading oncolytic virus candidate, RIVAL-01/TAK-605, which is being developed under a global collaboration with Takeda.

Moffitt is focused on the prevention and cure of cancer.

The Tampa, Florida-based facility is one of only 52 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt's scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education.

Moffitt has more than 7,500 employees.