Immunocore’s ImmTAC reagents work by coating the target cancer cells so that they are recognised by the killer T cells of the immune system.

In the experiment below, Mel624 melanoma cancer cells, which are EBV negative, are dyed red. CD8 T cells that are specific for EBV, and not for melanoma cells, are dyed green. In the presence of 0.1nM IMCgp100, the ImmTAC specific for melanoma, the T cells recognise and destroy the cancer cell. This video was taken over a period of 5 hours and shows a single green, non-cancer-specific T cell killing 3 melanoma cancer cells. The potency of Immunocore’s T cell redirection system is enhanced because each ImmTAC redirected T cell can specifically kill numerous target cells in a serial fashion.