LC-TDS

LC-TDS: The Langerhans Cell Targeted Delivery System

Easy-to-use, without injuries and highly specific – a minimal-invasive application of targeted nanoparticles.

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The immune system protects our body from harmful invaders, like viruses and bacteria. A central role play dendritic cells (DCs) for recognizing these invaders and teaching other immune cells to fight them. At the same time, DCs are also responsible for tolerating the body’s own structures (autoantigens) – a delicate “orchestra” of immune modulation!

Cutanos will harness the role of DCs to provide therapies for allergies, autoimmune diseases and cancer as well as vaccines against infectious diseases.

We use a system called LC-TDS, which presents antigens to the immune system through only one specific DC type: Langerhans cells (LCs). Depending on the state of the LCs, the immune response can induce tolerance or provide vaccination effects. Through our targeted delivery approach, we aim for safe immune profiles and significant dose sparing. The LC-TDS differs from other immunomodulating technologies due to a modular design allowing adaptation for different applications and high compatibility with other technologies. Another major advantage is the injury-free administration via the skin, increasing application safety and patients‘ compliance.

Why are Langerhans Cells special amongst other Dendritic cells?

• Reside in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin
• Express specific surface markers and receptors that enable them to recognize and respond to a wide range of antigens
• Ability to induce tolerance to self-antigens
• Regulate T cell responses (can either activate or suppress T cell responses)

What makes LCs promising targets for Immune therapies?

•  Accessible through the skin
• Ideal for targeted drug delivery due to their unique properties and ability to recognize specific antigens
• Can be manipulated to induce tolerance in autoimmune diseases and allergies, or to enhance immune responses against cancer and infectious diseases
• High potential for developing vaccines and immunotherapies that are safe and effective with minimal side effects

HOW IT WORKS

HOW IT WORKS

or how a small molecule ligand brings the system to its destination

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Through this first-of-a-kind targeted delivery approach, the LC-TDS is hardly taken up by off-target cells, which promises significant dose sparing and potentially fewer side effects.

Cutanos’ LC-TDS differs from all other immunomodulating technologies due to its modular design allowing flexible adaptation for different applications. This further results in a high compatibility with other technologies. Another major advantage is the injury-free administration via the skin through minimally invasive microneedles or microinjectors, which increases application safety and patients compliance.

FIRST OF ITS KIND

FIRST OF ITS KIND

Providing exclusive access to immune cells in the epidermis

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Cutanos achieves direct and minimally invasive antigen delivery to Langerhans cells via the skin – No complex and cost-intensive ex vivo loading of dendritic cells (DCs) is required!

Our LC-TDS technology also avoids the disadvantages of antibody-based targeting approaches (e.g. side effects, high production costs and blocking of the receptor for continuous antigen uptake): Due to its design, the LC-TDS mimics a natural pathogen and is processed as such by the Langerhans cells. It can be flexibly combined with various antigens and nanoparticles – often a bottleneck in non-modularly constructed drugs. This gives the LC-TDS a decisive advantage especially in vaccine development against seasonal viral pathogens (e.g. influenza or corona viruses).