We spoke to some of our researchers about their projects, their goals, and their hopes for Canadian cancer immunotherapy. Today, we hear from Jean-Simon Diallo.
What is the project you are working on in partnership with BioCanRx? What is your end goal with this project?
We are working in collaboration with Virica Biotech to apply new enhancers of Lentivirus Manufacturing to increase productivity. Lentiviruses are key and costly components used in making cell therapies for treatment of cancer and this new enhancer technology promises to reduce cost and increase access to new cell therapies for Canadian Cancer patients.
How has funding from BioCanRx allowed you to pursue this project?
BioCaRx funding was a key stimulus to the foundation of Virica Biotech over 5 years ago, and continues to play an important role to support technology development and application in real-life contexts as we are proposing to do in the current project with next-generation technology.
Where does your current project fit in the ecosystem of Canadian cancer immunotherapy?
We are supporting an often overlooked issue which is manufacturing of biological drugs which is complex, ineffective, and very expensive. Addressing this barrier means more affordable treatments and potentially access to therapies that are otherwise commercially non-viable owing to prohibitive costs.
What is the most satisfying part of your work?
As a career cancer researcher, I know how hard it is to make novel therapies into a reality for patients. The technologies we have developed and continue to develop with Virica can literally springboard 1000s of potentially life- saving medicines that use viral vectors as a component. The possibility of achieving this breadth of impact is incredibly motivating!
What difference do you hope to make for cancer immunotherapy in Canada?
I hope to make it possible to manufacture existing and future cell therapies for cancer in Canada, and at a price point that is affordable to Canadian Healthcare system.
