Abstract: Polypeptides having target levels of C-terminal variants are described.

Abstract: Methods for producing therapeutic T cells from umbilical cord blood are provided. Methods for treating immune-related diseases or conditions (e.g. autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, cancer) using umbilical cord blood derived therapeutic T cells are also provided. Compositions comprising umbilical cord blood derived therapeutic T cells are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing lymphoid progenitors. The inventors took advantage of their original and relevant Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections and Myelokathexis (WHIM) Syndrome (WS) model and the access to blood samples from five WS patients to investigate the impact of CXCR4 desensitization on BM and extra-medullary (i.e. splenic) hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) recirculation. They developed, for the first time, an original in vitro system permitting to selectively expand HSPCs to obtain lymphoid progenitors by using an original cocktail of cytokines. In particular, the present invention relates to an in vitro method for preparing lymphoid progenitors by culturing HSPCs in an appropriate culture medium comprising an effective amount of a cocktail of cytokines consisting in SCF, IL-3, IL-6, IL-7, Flt-3, and CXCL12.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Abstract: The present invention includes antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to human or cynomolgous monkey LAG3 as well as immunoglobulin chains thereof and polynucleotides encoding the same along with injection devices comprising such antibodies or fragments. Vaccines including such antibodies and fragments as well as compositions comprising the antibodies and fragments (e.g., including anti-PD1 antibodies) are included in the invention. Methods for treating or preventing cancer or infection using such compositions are also provided. In addition, methods for recombinant expression of the antibodies and fragments are part of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament for use in a method of inducing a cellular cytotoxic immune response, the method comprising the steps of: i) administering to a patient a delivery system comprising (a) a molecule binding to a receptor on the surface of a dendritic cell, (b) an antigen-comprising protein bound to molecule of (a) and (c) a first adjuvant, wherein upon binding of the molecule of (a) to the receptor, the protein of (b) is internalized and processed in the dendritic cell and the antigen comprised in the protein is presented on the surface of the dendritic cell, thereby activating a T cell in the patient; and ii) administering to the patient a re-activator selected from the group consisting of (d) complexed interleukin 2 (IL-2cx), (e) a peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) presenting cell and a second adjuvant, and (f) a combination of (d) and (e), wherein the peptide is derived from the antigen-comprising protein as defined in step i), thereby reactivating t

Abstract: The present invention provides means and methods for producing improved ex vivo B cell cultures with a short doubling time.

Abstract: The disclosure features fusion proteins that are conditionally active variants of a cytokine of interest. In one aspect, the full-length polypeptides of the invention have reduced or minimal cytokine-receptor activating activity even though they contain a functional cytokine polypeptide. Upon activation, e.g., by cleavage of a linker that joins a blocking moiety, e.g., a steric blocking polypeptide, in sequence to the active cytokine, the cytokine can bind its receptor and effect signaling. Typically, the fusion proteins further comprise an in vivo half-life extension element, which may be cleaved from the cytokine in the tumor microenvironment.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for inducing cells to gain characteristics of naïve stem cell state comprising culturing the cells in the presence of a MUC1* activator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of antagonistic and inverse agonistic anti-US28 antibodies, more specifically to single heavy chain variable domain antibodies (VHH) and variants and modifications thereof. The invention further relates to methods for producing these antibodies and to the use of the antibodies in methods for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, especially for treatment of an individual suffering from a CMV-positive tumor such as glioblastoma.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, cells, and compositions for preparing T cell populations and compositions for adoptive cell therapy. In particular, provided herein are methods for efficiently expanding and activating T cell populations for genetic engineering and adoptive T cell immunotherapies. Also provided are cells and compositions produced by the methods and methods of their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified B cells and their uses thereof, for example, for the treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders, including cancer, heart disease, inflammatory disease, muscle wasting disease, neurological disease, and the like. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to an isolated modified B cell (“CAR-B cell”), capable of expressing a chimeric receptor (“CAR-B receptor”), wherein said chimeric receptor comprises (a) an extracellular domain; (b) a transmembrane domain; and (c) a cytoplasmic domain that comprises at least one signaling domain. In various embodiments, the invention comprises an isolated modified B cell, wherein said B cell is capable of expressing and secreting a payload, wherein the payload is not naturally expressed in a B cell or is expressed at higher levels than is naturally expressed in a B cell. In various embodiments, the payload is an antibody or fragment thereof.

Abstract: The disclosure features fusion proteins that are conditionally active variants of a cytokine of interest. In one aspect, the full-length polypeptides of the invention have reduced or minimal cytokine-receptor activating activity even though they contain a functional cytokine polypeptide. Upon activation, e.g., by cleavage of a linker that joins a blocking moiety, e.g. a steric blocking polypeptide, in sequence to the active cytokine, the cytokine can bind its receptor and effect signaling. Typically, the fusion proteins further comprise an in vivo half-life extension element, which may be cleaved from the cytokine in the tumor microenvironment.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. The methods may comprise gene-editing at least a portion of the TILs to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. The methods may comprise gene-editing at least a portion of the TILs to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of in-vitro primary T cell growth that enrich T cells in a blood sample, stimulate the T cells with anti-CD2, anti-CD3, and/or anti-CD28 and that expand the T cells with a cytokine. Also provided are methods of treating a tumor in a patient using the expanded T cells.

Abstract: A method efficiently produces cytotoxic T lymphocytes having intrinsic properties of lymphocytes of the acquired immune system suitable for cellular immunotherapy. The method includes culturing CD4/CD8 double-positive T cells in a medium containing IL-7 and a T-cell receptor activator, to induce CD8?+?+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell-based assay for identifying and/or quantifying anti-CD3 homodimers in a composition comprising a T cell-dependent Bispecific antibody (TDB). In some aspects, the invention T cells comprising a T cell activation responsive reporter are contacted with the TDB to detect the presence of anti-CD3 homodimers. Compositions of reporter T cells and kits are also contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Abstract: The instant disclosure provides antibodies that specifically bind to LAG-3 (e.g., human LAG-3) and antagonize LAG-3 function. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies, nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors and host cells for making these antibodies, and methods of treating a subject using these antibodies.