Definition

A hydrogel carrier-based, sustained-release (SR) formulation containing a variant of the endogenous cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon intravenous administration of TransCon IL-2 beta/gamma (IL-2b/g), the IL-2b/g variant is slowly released over an extended period of time and selectively binds to the IL-2 receptor b/g subunit (IL2Rb/g). The binding of IL-2b/g variant to IL2Rb/g activates IL2Rb/g-mediated signaling, which activates cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells, and induces expression of certain cytotoxic cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFNg) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFb). The activation of the immune responses against tumor cells causes tumor cell destruction. IL2Rb/g plays a key role in the proliferation and activation of effector T cells. IL-2b/g minimally binds to the IL2Ralpha subunit (IL2Ra). Signaling through IL2Ra activates CD4-positive regulatory, immunosuppressive T cells (Tregs), which would suppress tumor cell killing.