IMU Biosciences Joins Innovative UK Research Consortium on Cancer Immunotherapy Responses

October 07, 2024: IMU Biosciences, a biotechnology company at the forefront of systems-level immune profiling using AI to advance precision medicine, has announced its involvement in MANIFEST (Multiomic ANalysis of Immunotherapy Features Evidencing Success and Toxicity), a new UK-wide initiative aimed at understanding patient responses to immunotherapy and associated side effects in cancer treatment. 

The MANIFEST consortium, led by the Francis Crick Institute and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, has secured £9 million in funding from the UK government's Medical Research Council and Office for Life Sciences, along with an additional £12.9 million in matched funding from industry partners. This four-year project is designed to tackle the various challenges faced by immunotherapy and develop predictive biomarkers related to patient responses, resistance, and immune-related adverse events.

IMU Biosciences will play a key role in this nationwide effort by analysing thousands of blood samples from patients receiving immunotherapy. The Company’s advanced technology platform, which combines high-resolution spectral cytometry with AI-driven analytics, can identify and analyse over 2,000 immune cell subsets to generate novel systems-level immune signatures and insights.

IMU’s technology will be critical in the study, helping to determine how an individual’s immune system affects their responsiveness to immunotherapy. Through its AI and machine learning capabilities, IMU aims to create predictive models that enhance treatment selection and improve patient outcomes.

The research will initially target melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer, involving 6,000 patients across the UK. The consortium's findings aim to clarify which patients are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy and offer insights for potential new treatments, including vaccines and cell therapies.

The MANIFEST consortium comprises 15 academic institutions, including The Francis Crick Institute and the Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, alongside six NHS Trusts and 11 industry partners, including IMU Biosciences. It also includes patient advocacy groups and various other networks.

In an official publication by IMU Biosciences, Adam Laing, President and CSO commented, “The IMU team is thrilled to contribute our cutting-edge, AI-driven immune profiling platform to this groundbreaking UK consortium, helping to deepen the understanding of the immune system’s role in cancer therapy and response, with the ultimate goal of improving clinical outcomes for patients. This collaboration with world-class institutions and industry partners underscores IMU Biosciences' commitment to driving innovation in precision medicine and showcases our potential to make a real impact in healthcare."

This collaboration aims to enhance understanding of immunotherapy responses and develop predictive models, ultimately striving for more effective and personalised treatment options for patients. The initiative holds great promise for improving outcomes in cancer care.