The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) accepts the most promising cancer nanomedicine candidates into its Assay Cascade characterization and testing program. Nanomedicines accepted into the program will undergo a rigorous evaluation that may include sterility and endotoxin testing, physicochemical characterization, in vitro hemato- and immunotoxicity, and in vivo studies to evaluate safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics. The studies are tailored to each individual nanomedicine and are designed to promote the clinical translation of these novel therapies. All studies are conducted at no cost for accepted proposals.

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POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO) is a Buffalo, NY startup developing breakthrough products based on functional liposomes. Spontaneous nanoliposome antigen particles (POP BIO SNAP™) enable facile assembly of proteins and peptide antigens into a liposome-displayed format capable of enhanced immunogenicity. POP BIO SNAP™ proved to be safer and more immunogenic than a viral vector comparator in a Phase 3 Trial of EuCorVac-19, a COVID-19 vaccine. POP BIO has shown POP BIO SNAP™ holds potential as an ultra-potent cancer vaccine system for short MHC-I restricted synthetic peptide and will collaborate with the NCI-NCL program to characterize a human cancer vaccine product concept.

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