A joint effort between the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Neogenlogic, a local biotech company, has led to the creation of an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) model. This model aims to facilitate the production of personalized cancer vaccines by identifying unique neoantigens in individual patients. These neoantigens play a crucial role in training the immune system to prevent cancer recurrence.
The research team, spearheaded by Professor Choi Jung-kyoon from KAIST, emphasized the significance of neoantigens in tailoring cancer vaccines to each patient. Unlike traditional vaccines that target immediate immune responses, this new approach focuses on stimulating B cell-mediated immune memory for long-term antitumor effects. The team’s groundbreaking findings were recently published in Science Advances, a respected scientific journal.
The AI platform developed by the team is designed to predict neoantigens that can effectively trigger a robust B cell response. By analyzing the structural interactions between mutant peptides and B cell receptors (BCRs), the model can enhance the design of personalized cancer vaccines. This marks a significant advancement in predicting both B cell and T cell responses for vaccine development.
Professor Choi underscored the importance of the study in shedding light on the role of B cells in crafting cancer vaccines. He noted that while the scientific community recognized the significance of studying B cells in vaccine development, there was previously a lack of tools to validate this concept. Neogenlogic, in a separate announcement, confirmed the successful validation of the new technology using extensive genomic datasets and clinical trial information from leading vaccine developers worldwide. The AI framework has been seamlessly integrated into Neogenlogic’s proprietary discovery engine, DeepNeo.
Looking ahead, Professor Choi’s team is gearing up to submit an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Their goal is to commence clinical trials by 2027, leveraging the new AI model to advance personalized cancer vaccine research. The collaborative efforts between KAIST and Neogenlogic aim to transition this groundbreaking academic achievement into a practical clinical tool, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of neoantigen selection for cancer treatment.
