Oricell Therapeutics Co. Ltd. raised $45 million in a series B1 round to expand in the U.S. market. RTW Investments LP and the Qatar Investment Authority led the financing, which followed the completion of a $125 million series B round in July 2022. Shanghai-based Oricell plans to use the new funds to support the clinical development of its lead candidates, including Oricar-017, in the U.S.
Oricell Therapeutics Co. Ltd. raised $45 million in a series B1 round to expand in the U.S. market. RTW Investments LP and the Qatar Investment Authority led the financing, which followed the completion of a $125 million series B round in July 2022. Shanghai-based Oricell plans to use the new funds to support the clinical development of its lead candidates, including Oricar-017, in the U.S.
Researchers from Caribou Biosciences Inc. presented preclinical data for the novel BCMA-specific allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy candidate, CB-011, being developed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. A genome editing strategy was implemented in the production of CB-011 to blunt CAR T-cell rejection by both patient T cells and natural killer (NK) cells.
The U.S. FDA granted Nanjing Iaso Biotherapeutics Co. Ltd. both regenerative medicine advanced therapy and fast track designations for its new drug, BCMA CAR T-cell therapy CT-103A (equecabtagene autoleucel), allowing it to speed up development and commercialization in the U.S. for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Iaso Biotherapeutics Inc. raised ¥500 million (US$75 million) in a series C1 round as looks for its first drug approval by China after its NDA was accepted for what is claimed to be the first B-cell maturation antigen-targeting CAR T-cell therapy in China.
CAR T specialist Carsgen Therapeutics Holdings Ltd. out-licensed commercial rights for its B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR T therapy, CT-053, in mainland China to Huadong Medicine Co Ltd. in a deal worth up to $152 million.
Researchers at GM Biosciences Inc. have reported developed a novel CD38xCD3 bispecific IgM T-cell engager IGM-2644 with 10 binding sites for human CD38 (Kd=0.27nM; measured by biolayer interferometry) and one anti-CD3 site (Kd=2.1nM) designed to reduce safety concerns.
Multiple myeloma (MM) represents about 10% of all blood cancers, remaining an incurable disease with a 5-year overall survival rate of 56%. B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is a receptor in the cell surface that is highly expressed in malignant plasma cells, and in normal cells, that promotes cell proliferation and survival by binding to APRIL and BAFF ligands.
G-protein coupled receptor family C group 5 member D (GPRC5D) is a tumor-associated receptor that is highly expressed in multiple myeloma (MM) and is a potential target for therapy in MM. Preclinical data have been presented for FT-555, an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived CAR-NK (CAR-iNK) cell product that exerts dual targeting on GPRC5D and CD38 in combination with daratumumab.
Researchers from Cytovia Therapeutics Inc. have presented preclinical data for the novel natural killer (NK) cell engager antibody CYT-338, which was designed using the proprietary FLEX-NKTM platform. CYT-338 contains a novel FLEX-linker to redirect NK cells expressing NKp46 activation receptor to kill CD38-expressing tumors, including multiple myeloma (MM). It was observed that the addition of CYT-338 led to dose-dependent enhancement iNK and PBNK cytolysis of the MM tumor spheroids.
