A recent research achievement from RocRock Bio's unique global technology platform has made its way into print. The study, named "Enhanced infection efficiency and cytotoxicity mediated by Vpx-containing lentivirus in chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M)", saw the light of day in the Cell Press publication "Heliyon" on November 18th.

RocRock Bio, taking the helm, joined forces with the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army and Shenyang University of Chemical Technology to tackle a collective research and development project that spanned two years, culminating in a triumphant example of industry-academia-research synergy. This breakthrough has resolved the long-standing of inefficient transfection of macrophages with retroviruses like lentiviruses, enhancing the modification and precise editing efficiency of human monocytes/dendritic cells and macrophages from a mere 1-3% to an impressive 74%, with optimal conditions pushing this rate to above 97%.

Macrophages, integral to innate immunity, are pivotal in the context of cancer, autoimmune diseases, chronic illnesses, and organ senescence, with their therapeutic potential being vast. Efficient gene transduction, a critical component in macrophage therapy akin to T and NK cell treatments, has been significantly advanced. However, the natural resistance of primary human monocytes and macrophages to lentiviral infection has posed a substantial barrier to the development of macrophage-based lentiviral therapies. Kunshi Bio has ingeniously addressed this by modifying the lentiviral vector to enhance infection rates of human macrophages, culminating in the successful establishment of a lentiviral transfection platform after two years of dedicated research. Utilizing Vpx protein-laden lentiviruses, this technology has been instrumental in the creation of genetically modified macrophages with high gene transfer efficacy and stable pro-inflammatory profiles, which is particularly promising for oncology treatments.

    In addition to this, the technology has been shown to markedly boost macrophage proliferation and phagocytic capabilities. As a cornerstone of RocRock Bio's technological advancements, it has solidified the foundation for the swift expansion and advancement of the company's CAR-M therapeutic platform, targeting a trio of strategic disease areas: cancer, chronic diseases, and aging.