The use of CAR T-cell therapy has transformed outcomes for relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, but access to it remains extremely limited in some countries. Cartogene Therapeutics Pvt Ltd. aimed to address this need by in-licensing CGT-19, a CD19 CAR T construct from Vector Biomed Inc.
Autoantibodies and B cells are drivers of progressive autoimmune diseases, but targeting B cells or plasma cells alone is not sufficient to address them. Earendil Labs has presented data on HXN-1031, a novel T-cell engager targeting both CD19 and B-cell maturation protein (BCMA).
Ascentage Pharma Group International has obtained IND approval from the FDA for its BTK-targeted protein degrader APG-3288. A phase I study will be conducted in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies.
Avencell Therapeutics Inc. has received clinical trial clearances from the FDA and EMA to conduct a phase I/II trial (Quadvance) of AVC-203 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been a game changer in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, although their manufacturing process is complex and needs lymphodepletion, thus limiting their use. Researchers from Capstan Therapeutics Inc. have recently published data regarding an in vivo engineering approach to generate CAR T cells using targeted lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for mRNA delivery to specific T-cell populations for the treatment of cancer and B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell malignancies has still to be improved regarding durability, manufacturing complexity or toxicity, among others. Precigen Inc. has presented data regarding the preclinical development and efficacy of PRGN-3008, a PD-1-expression inhibitor cell therapy targeting CD19 that was built in a next-generation ultra CAR T platform.
City of Hope conducted RNAseq analysis of patient samples with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), which revealed that among the m6A machinery genes, YTHDF2, which encodes YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein F2, was the most significantly overexpressed gene.
The protease mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation 1 (MALT1) is a signaling protein with both molecular scaffolding and protease activity involved in lymphocyte activation. MALT1 is considered a therapeutic target for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in patients who develop resistance to Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors.
In a presentation at the recent American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego, Kite Pharma Inc. reported preclinical data for KITE-753, an autologous rapid manufactured anti-CD19/CD20 CAR T-cell therapy being developed for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
Researchers from Janssen Research & Development LLC presented preclinical data for JNJ-87801493, a first-in-class CD20 targeted CD28 costimulatory bispecific antibody (Ab), currently in early clinical development for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
