This presentation provided an insightful overview of Plurify's innovative approach to cell purification. Plurify, a recent spin-out from a collaboration between Deep Science Ventures and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, aimed to address the challenges of large-scale cell therapy, particularly tumorigenicity, immunogenicity, and heterogeneity. Djordjevic emphasised that while large-scale cell therapy held promise for treating various diseases, it remained prohibitively expensive and faced significant challenges.
Plurify's solution involved creating a scalable cell purification platform using molecular logic and engineering biology. The platform targeted internal cellular biomarkers with a kill switch, allowing for the selective removal of unwanted cells. The presentation highlighted the limitations of existing approaches, such as genetic engineering and physical sorting, and how Plurify's method offered a more effective and scalable solution.
Djordjevic presented proof-of-concept data demonstrating the platform's ability to selectively kill unwanted cells based on internal biomarkers. The data showed that Plurify's molecules could activate a kill switch in a cell type-specific manner, effectively removing unwanted cells without affecting the desired ones. However, Djordjevic acknowledged that further optimization was needed to improve the platform's efficacy.
Recent experiments had shown progress in engineering molecules to selectively kill specific cell types, but challenges remained. Djordjevic discussed the need for continued improvement and optimization of the platform. Looking ahead, Plurify planned to run pilot projects and invited collaborations to further develop and refine their technology.
Overall, the presentation conveyed Plurify's commitment to advancing cell therapy by providing a scalable and effective solution for cell purification, addressing critical challenges in the field.
