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For the immune system to function properly, macrophages and dendritic cells, which are 1st defense lines in the human body, must recognized foreign microorganisms as “Non-Self“. In the recognition process, a receptor protein called PRR (Pattern Recognition Receptor) is used to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) of germs or viruses, triggering innate immunity. The substance that binds to PRR receptors and triggers immunity is called PRR agonist, and these PRR agonists are directly used or engineered to develop immuno-cancer drugs.

The source of PAMPs has been limited to pathogen such as bacteria and viruses, but iNtRON defines bacteriophage, a type of virus, as a "source of new PAMPs," and is studying "new PRR agonist (BΦPTA)." We are screening new candidates based on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data composed of over 500 kinds of bacteriophage and related technologies accumulated over the past 20 years. The data base is comprised of newly secured bacteriophage, where iNtRON is discovering the most suitable BΦPTA candidates. Through BΦPTA, the first pipeline of the PHAGERIARUS^® platform, we will develop immuno-cancer drugs as well as novel immuno-therapeutics for treating various immune-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Diabetes.

- Bacteriophage is responsible for regulating the anti-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines secreted by various immune cells.
- iNtRON aims to secure bacteriophage-based Immune Regulators that can turn On/Off the function of the human immune system.

The body's immune system recognizes “foreign / non-self” antigens caused by viral infections or recognizes abnormal cells such as cancer cells caused by mutations and triggers immune responses. However, in the case of intestinal bacteria present in human microbiome, despite being “non-self," they are not removed by the immune system and coexist in various roles within the human gut. It is thought that the reason why it coexists without being completely removed is that the genetic material (prophage) derived from bacteriophages in the bacterial genome can avoid the immune system of the host person. We postulate that bacteriophages, bacteria, and viruses have various effects on the human immune system, and many studies have revealed related clues.

While the field of infectious diseases focuses on lytic bacteriophage with a life cycle that directly targets and kills bacteria, PHAGERIARUS^® is a platform technology that identifies the effect of lysogenic bacteriophage on not only human immunity but also tumor immunity. CIR (Cancer Immune Regulators), one of the PHAGERIARUS^® platform pipelines, is a new concept of immune regulator that induces anti-tumor immune responses using lysogenic bacteriophages. We will secure various anti-cancer drug candidates derived from bacteriophages and verify their immune system regulation functions for the early applications. Also, iNtRON will ultimately develop immune regulators that are effective in controlling various cancers and cooperate with related companies.