Xenikos intends to evaluate T-Guard® beyond graft-versus-host disease in other disease areas involving hyperactive, misdirected, or malignant T cells, such as solid organ rejection and autoimmune diseases. T-Guard has not yet been tested in any of these indications.
Solid organ rejection
Transplantation is a common medical procedure for replacing malfunctioning organs, and the range of transplantable organs is steadily increasing. Lifelong treatment with immunosuppressive drugs is usually required to help the patient’s body accept the transplanted tissue, but, despite this precaution, acute rejection can still occur. T-Guard may provide an attractive alternative to other immunosuppressive drugs used in this situation, based on its good tolerability, fast mode of action, and swift restoration of the patient’s immune system.
Autoimmune diseases
Current treatments for autoimmune diseases are typically directed at alleviating symptoms and managing pain, rather than curing the condition. These treatments are not always successful, and long-term use of many current therapies is associated with serious side effects. As autoreactive T cells seem to play a crucial role in the development of most life-threatening autoimmune diseases, a relatively new treatment strategy aims to reset the body’s immune system through self- or donor-derived blood stem cell transplants. In the absence of the original antigenic triggers, immune homeostasis is restored, and self-tolerance can return. Although delivering promising results, the transplant procedures are still not effective for all patients and are associated with a substantial treatment-related morbidity and mortality. T-Guard might provide a milder, more specific alternative treatment option for these patients.
Solid organ rejection
Transplantation is a common medical procedure for replacing malfunctioning organs, and the range of transplantable organs is steadily increasing. Lifelong treatment with immunosuppressive drugs is usually required to help the patient’s body accept the transplanted tissue, but, despite this precaution, acute rejection can still occur. T-Guard may provide an attractive alternative to other immunosuppressive drugs used in this situation, based on its good tolerability, fast mode of action, and swift restoration of the patient’s immune system.
Autoimmune diseases
Current treatments for autoimmune diseases are typically directed at alleviating symptoms and managing pain, rather than curing the condition. These treatments are not always successful, and long-term use of many current therapies is associated with serious side effects. As autoreactive T cells seem to play a crucial role in the development of most life-threatening autoimmune diseases, a relatively new treatment strategy aims to reset the body’s immune system through self- or donor-derived blood stem cell transplants. In the absence of the original antigenic triggers, immune homeostasis is restored, and self-tolerance can return. Although delivering promising results, the transplant procedures are still not effective for all patients and are associated with a substantial treatment-related morbidity and mortality. T-Guard might provide a milder, more specific alternative treatment option for these patients.