Science

Mozart is developing CD8 Treg modulators for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

The Regulatory CD8 T Cell Network

Regulatory CD8 T cells play a key role in regulating self-tolerance by selectively probing for and eliminating auto-reactive and pathogenic CD4 T cells and possibly other immune cells. However, in autoimmune disease, this network fails to control the activation and expansion of pathogenic CD4 T cells, resulting in a downstream cascade of inflammatory events that ultimately can lead to tissue destruction.

Downstream Inflammation

downstream cascade of inflammatory illustration

Our Approach

We are targeting the regulatory CD8 T cell network to counteract early events in the inflammatory cascade. Therapeutic modulation of this network is designed to restore the functions of CD8 Tregs to suppress and eliminate pathogenic immune cells, providing durable control of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

CD8 Treg Modulators

CD8 Treg Modulators illustration

CD8 Treg modulators are disease modifying therapeutic molecules that selectively target the regulatory CD8 T cell network to counteract early events in the autoimmune inflammatory cascade. CD8 Treg Modulators are designed to restore the intrinsic functions of regulatory CD8 T cells to suppress and eliminate pathogenic immune cells, providing durable control of autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases. 

Posters and Publications

Nonclinical Assessment of Toxicity and Pharmacology of MTX-101, a Novel KIRxCD8 Targeting Bispecific CD8 Treg Modulator, in Humanized Mouse | Society of Toxicology Meeting, March 2024 #5081

Pre-Clinical Characterization of MTX-101, a Novel Bispecific CD8 Treg Modulator with the Potential to Restore CD8 Treg Functions in Patients with Rheumatological Autoimmune DiseasesAmerican College of Rheumatology (ACR), November 2023

Pre-clinical Pharmacologic and Tolerability Characterization of MTX-101, a Novel KIR x CD8 Targeting Bispecific CD8 Treg Modulator | FOCIS 2023 Annual Meeting, June 2023 #1517124

Pre-clinical Pharmacologic and Tolerability Characterization of a Novel KIR x CD8 Targeting Bispecific CD8 Treg Modulator | American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting, May 2023 #2638

A KIR x CD8 Targeting Bispecific Modulator Enhances Regulatory CD8 T Cell Functions, and Reduces Inflammation in Models of Autoimmune Disease | American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting, May 2023 #2804

A Novel Bispecific CD8 Treg Modulator Targeting Cytolytic CD8 Regulatory T cells Reduces Pathogenic CD4 T cells and Inflammation in Translational Models of Intestinal Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disease | 2023 Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, January 2023 #124

A Newly Discovered Regulatory CD8 T Cell Network Has The Potential To Regulate And Eliminate Pathogenic CD4 T Cells In Autoimmune Mediated Disease Of The Gut​ | 2022 Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) Conference, May 2022, Presentation # sa1117

Bispecific CD8 Treg modulators regulate a novel regulatory CD8 T cell network and eliminate pathogenic CD4 T cells in live cell co-culture system | American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting, May 2022, Abstract # 1090

Demonstration of regulatory CD8 T cell prevalence, phenotype, and functions in autoimmune patients treated with a tolerizing peptide vaccine | American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting, May 2022, Abstract # 889