Technology | Toleris Biotherapeutics

A new class of precision biotherapeutics enables organ-specific tolerance induction

Toleris develops Autoimmunity Modifying Biologicals (AIM Bios): soluble, near-physiological proteins capable of inducing selective, antigen-specific immunological tolerance in an organ of choice. They are easy to produce and to purify, and stable enough for freezing and transportation. They mimic the natural HLA-G molecule that protects embryos from the maternal immune system, but use different targeting modules to induce tolerance in an organ of choice.

Autoimmune diseases: an enormous burden

There are over 80 recognized autoimmune diseases, which, in combination, affect approximately 10% of the world population. Many cause chronic and severe, some even life-threatening symptoms. Treating them poses a substantial challenge: current therapies almost all rely on suppressing immune functions that the patient needs to fight pathogens and cancer. We believe we can do better.

Precision immune tolerance, inspired by pregnancy

We discovered a potent tolerance mechanism that enables embryos to induce precision immune tolerance towards foreign antigens coming from the father. Based on this mechanism, Toleris develops precision biotherapeutics designed to selectively protect organs affected by autoimmunity without causing systemic immunosuppression.

Our initial focus: to stop the underlying cause of neuroinflammation

Toleris focuses on high-need commercially attractive neuroinflammatory indications with clearly defined target cells and tissues such as MS/MOGAD and Parkinson’s disease.

Technology validated with patient cells and across five animal models

Mouse-adapted AIM Bios demonstrated tremendous efficacy in preventive or therapeutic multiple sclerosis...

and Parkinson's disease models:

CD8⁺ Treg specific for the AIM Bio-presented peptide-antigen were detected even eight months after the last injection.

CD8⁺ Tregs: superior to CD4⁺Tregs in treating autoimmune diseases?

Many competitors focussing on inducing CD4⁺ Treg to treat autoimmune diseases have failed. We believe that in vivo AIM Bio-induced antigen-specific CD8⁺ Treg posses key benefits that could revolutionize the field.