Scaling TCR-T Therapies: Reagan Jarvis on Non-Viral Gene Editing and Target Mapping

In this episode of the IDEA Collider, host Mike Rea sits down with Reagan Jarvis, scientific founder and CEO of Anocca, to explore how TCR-T cell therapy could unlock the next frontier in cancer treatment—particularly for solid tumors.  While CAR-T therapy has transformed outcomes in hematologic cancers, its success has been limited in solid tumors due to a lack of suitable targets. Reagan explains how T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies overcome this challenge by targeting HLA-presented peptide antigens, enabling access to tumor-specific biology that CAR-T cannot reach.  Anocca is building a fully integrated platform that combines: Target mapping of HLA-peptide complexes Rapid generation of optimized T-cell receptors from healthy donors Non-viral gene editing for faster, lower-cost manufacturing End-to-end control from discovery through clinical development. The conversation also highlights Anocca’s first clinical program targeting mutant KRAS in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, using an umbrella trial design, early intervention strategies, and biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Reagan shares insights on regulatory pathways for individualized therapies, the commercial challenges of patient segmentation, and how software, data, and machine learning are becoming essential to scaling cell therapy platforms.  This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in cell therapy innovation, cancer immunotherapy, and the future of precision medicine.  Episode Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction to TCR-T and solid tumor challenges  00:48 – Meet Reagan Jarvis and Anocca  02:05 – From New Zealand to Sweden: founder journey  03:08 – Frustration that sparked the platform  04:33 – Why CAR-T struggles in solid tumors  07:24 – The advantage of vertical integration in biotech  09:23 – First non-viral clinical trial challenges  10:56 – Umbrella trials in pancreatic cancer (KRAS focus)  14:13 – Biomarkers and building a target library  17:08 – Software, data, and machine learning in TCR discovery  18:08 – Regulatory pathways for individualized therapies  19:19 – Commercial landscape and target bottlenecks  22:29 – Expanding beyond oncology and partnerships  23:51 – Building a biotech company in Sweden  27:12 – Misconceptions about T-cell biology  30:04 – Milestones and 5-year vision  32:32 – Advice for scientific founders  34:17 – Closing thoughts  Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!      Keep up with Reagan Jarvis;  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reagan-jarvis-063984142/  Website: https://www.anocca.com/     Follow IDEA Pharma  Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idea-pharma/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/