3-o-sulfo-galactosylceramide Analogs for Targeting Lung Metastases

Summary:

Lung metastases represent a major clinical challenge in advanced cancer, with poor survival rates and no effective therapies to prevent their development. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have developed C24:2, a first-in-class synthetic 3-O-sulfo-galactosylceramide analog. After lysosomal processing by dendritic cells, C24:2 switches immune specificity to activate type I NKT cells, triggering a potent IFN-γ–mediated Th1 response. This novel mechanism significantly reduces lung metastases in preclinical models and positions C24:2 as a promising candidate for next-generation cancer immunotherapy.

The structure and synthesis procedure of C24:2 are described in Patent Cooperation Treaty PCT/US2019/023890 which corresponds to E-100-2018 and for which Dr. Jay Berzofsky is the lead inventor. The NCI seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for the sulfatide analog, C24:2.

Competitive Advantages:

• Addresses a high unmet need: No effective therapies currently exist for lung metastases.
• First-in-class approach: Exploits a unique mechanism based on antigen processing and NKT cell subtype switching.
• Broad cancer applicability: Effective against metastases from diverse tumor types.
• Combination potential: May synergize with approved checkpoint inhibitors to boost patient outcomes

Commercial Applications:

• Therapeutic agent for lung metastases from different types of cancers
• Immunomodulator for type I NKT cell
• Combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors or cancer vaccines