Lorantis technology of antigen-specific immune modulation is based on the discoveries of Lorantis’ founders Professor Maggie Dallman, Professor Jonathon Lamb and Dr. Gerry Hoyne who showed that activation of the Notch signalling pathway in immune cells results in antigen-specific immune suppression selective for the co-administered antigen. This finding has significant commercial potential for the development of novel classes of therapeutics.

During the course of immune activation, antigen presenting cells present antigen to T-cells. During this interaction, Notch receptors on T-cells are activated by Notch binding proteins (Delta or Jagged). This basal level of Notch signalling results in a measured immune response.

Basic activation of the immune response

By pharmacologically enhancing signalling through the Notch receptor, the immune response to the activating antigen can be suppressed. Alternatively, inhibiting physiological Notch activation relieves the natural attenuating role of Notch and leads to enhanced immune responses to antigen. Lorantis’ LOR-S03 and LOR-A04 product candidates, based on the Notch binding protein Delta, are designed to selectively suppress or enhance the immune response to antigen, respectively.