What is CAR-T?

CAR-T – chimeric antigen receptor T-cell – therapy is specifically developed for each individual patient and involves reprogramming the patient’s own immune system cells which are then used to target their cancer, i.e. it’s an immunotherapy. It is a highly complex and potentially risky treatment, but it has been shown in trials to cure some patients, even those with quite advanced cancers and where other available treatments have failed.

The treatment involves several steps over a number of weeks. First the patient’s blood is taken and is sent off to the manufacturer’s laboratory. Here the patient’s blood is ‘trained’ to fight the cancer cells. The CAR-T blood is then transported back to the hospital and the patient is administered with the CAR-T to treat their condition.

It has not been deployed in clinical trials for Neuroendocrine Neoplasms but leading CAR-T company Chimeric recently announced the expansion of their pipeline with the exclusive licensing of CHM 2101, a novel, 3rd generation CDH17 CAR T invented at the University of Pennsylvania. CHM 2101 (CDH17 CAR T) is currently in preclinical development with a planned phase 1 clinical trial in 2022 in Neuroendocrine Tumours, Colorectal, Pancreatic and Gastric Cancer.

ANNOUNCEMENT: CHIMERIC ACHIEVES FIRST MILESTONE ON THE PATH TO CDH17 CAR T CLINICAL TRIAL

● Phase 1 plasmid manufacturing commenced
● Phase 1 clinical trial for neuroendocrine & colorectal tumors planned for 2022
● Positions Chimeric to have a minimum of two Phase 1 trials underway during 2022

Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX:CHM, “Chimeric”), a clinical-stage cell therapy company and the ASX leader in cell therapy, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the manufacturing for CHM 2101 research-grade plasmids, a critical first step in the development of CDH17 CAR T. Manufacturing of CAR T therapies is dependent upon plasmids and viral vectors that hold the genetic instructions for each specific CAR T product. Plasmids are small DNA molecules that carry genetic instructions and their successful manufacture marks an important early step for all CAR T therapies.

In collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, all of the research-grade helper and transfer plasmids for the CDH17 CAR T have been completed and released. The achievement of this first step in CAR T manufacturing enables progression to research vector manufacturing, GMP plasmid and vector manufacturing and advancement of technical operations in readiness for the CDH17 CAR T phase 1 clinical trial.

Chimeric’s CEO and Managing Director Jennifer Chow said: “We are very pleased that we have been able to achieve this key first step so rapidly after licensing. This accomplishment speaks to the commitment and drive that the Chimeric and University of Pennsylvania teams share to move this important CAR T forward to Phase 1 clinical trials.”

In addition to commencing the CDH17 CAR T Phase 1 trial in 2022, Chimeric is also progressing its CLTX CAR T Phase 1 clinical trial in glioblastoma (brain cancer) at The City of Hope Cancer Centre in California, where patients are now receiving second dose levels.

Interest point.  The UK NHS is already using CAR-T for treating relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in people up to the age of 25 years. A second one has been approved for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after 2 or more systemic therapies.

A more in-depth summary of CAT-T tech is given here.