Technology Opportunities

Investigators: Prof. Reuven Or and Dr. Osnat Hazan

Market Need
Lymphopenia, is the condition of having an abnormally low level of lymphocytes in the blood, can be a major problem in patients with solid tumors treated with radiation and chemotherapy, in patients recovering from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and in other medical conditions. Lymphopenia makes patients susceptible to various infections and is associated with treatment-related lymphopenia and decreased survival in patients. Furthermore, patients who suffer from lymphopenia can be less responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Altogether, there is a need for an effective mean to accelerate lymphocyte recovery in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy to improve their survival rate.

Innovation
Cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) antagonism using small molecules as a means to accelerate lymphpogenesis following chemotherapy and/or irradiation.

Findings

ü CB2 knockout mice exhibit improved rehabilitation of lymphocytes following chemotherapy or irradiation.

ü CB2 antagonist administration to mice elevated lymphocyte counts following irradiation and bone marrow transplantation compared to untreated mice.

Indications/Applications:
CB2 antagonists can be used a prophylactic and as a combination treatment with chemotherapy/irradiation, to enable a faster lymphocyte recovery to patient survival, as well as to increase the chance for a successful treatment by immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Competitive Advantage
A novel solution for a significant unmet need that currently has limited solutions and success rate.