Let’s compare Adaptive BioTechnologies and Agenus Inc. in terms of how they utilize the adaptive immune system to combat cancer:
Adaptive BioTechnologies:
- Immunosequencing: Adaptive BioTechnologies provides an end-to-end immunosequencing solution called Immunosequencing.
- This solution helps researchers discover the breadth and depth of the adaptive immune system. Here are some key features:
- Quantitative Abundance Data:
- Immunosequencing uses a multiplex PCR-based assay that enables sequencing directly from genomic DNA. Unlike RNA-based assays, it provides precise and quantitative abundance data on cell populations.
- Synthetic Immune Templates:
- Rigorously designed synthetic immune templates act as in-line controls, ensuring accurate, quantitative, and unbiased results.
- High-Throughput Sequencing:
- By sequencing the CDR3 variable chain of T- and B-cell receptors, Immunosequencing captures the depth and breadth of the immune repertoire, allowing insights into disease dynamics and treatment response.
- Collaborations:
- Adaptive BioTechnologies collaborates with companies like AstraZeneca to map the immune response to cancer antigens, potentially informing the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Recent Highlights from Q1 2024
-- Revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was $41.9 million. The MRD business, which contributed 78% of revenue, grew 52% versus the first quarter of 2023. -- clonoSEQ test volume in the first quarter of 2024 grew 41% to 17,040 tests delivered versus the first quarter of 2023. -- Recognized $4.5 million within MRD revenue upon the achievement of regulatory milestones from biopharmaceutical clinical studies. -- The FDA's Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) voted unanimously in favor of the use of MRD as a primary endpoint to support the accelerated approval of new therapies for patients with multiple myeloma. -- Following a strategic review, MRD and Immune Medicine will operate under Adaptive with dedicated resources, separate segment reporting and disciplined capital allocation. -- Initiated antibody discovery campaign in Immune Medicine for multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes to discover, make and test select antibodies to generate preclinical data during 2024.
Agenus Inc.:
- Botensilimab: Agenus has developed a next-generation CTLA-4 antibody called Botensilimab. Here’s how it works:
- Cold Tumors:
- Botensilimab extends the curative benefits of immunotherapy (I-O) to cold tumors that do not respond to approved immunotherapies.
- Hot Tumors:
- It also expands clinical benefit in hot tumors (e.g., melanoma), where CTLA-4 is approved but shows clinical benefit in only a third of patients.
- Improved Tolerability:
- Botensilimab aims to reduce or eliminate side effects that cause treatment discontinuation.
- Pipeline:
- Agenus discovers, manufactures, and develops immuno-oncology therapeutics, including checkpoint modulators (CPMs), patient-specific anti-cancer vaccines, and adjuvants for use with various vaccines.
- Recent Trials:
- Agenus initiated global Phase 2 trials for botensilimab in advanced MSS colorectal cancer and advanced melanoma, activating both innate and adaptive immune responses.
- Additionally, the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab showed unprecedented activity in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer.
"The rapid and complete resolution of aggressive MSS colorectal cancer tumors observed in this study is unprecedented in the field" says the author Dr. Kasi
- Botensilimab: Agenus has developed a next-generation CTLA-4 antibody called Botensilimab. Here’s how it works:
In summary, both companies leverage the adaptive immune system through innovative approaches to combat cancer, with Adaptive BioTechnologies focusing on immunosequencing and Agenus developing next-generation antibodies like botensilimab.
These two small cap companies can be found on the Nasdaq under the symbols
$ADPT - $AGEN
From the "American College of Surgeons" report!