On September 18, 2017 UCL Business spinout company, Autolus Limited, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of next-generation engineered T-cell therapies, reported completion of the first-dose cohort of its phase I/II study of its novel, dual-targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (Press release, UCLB, SEP 18, 2017, http://www.uclb.com/news-and-events/news-post/autolus-announces-first-dose-cohort-completed-in-april-study-of-auto2-a-phase-iii-study-in-patients-with-multiple-myeloma [SID1234520543]).
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AUTO2 is a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T cell) therapy that targets both B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI). The APRIL Study is a dose-escalation phase I/II study in which cohorts of patients receive ascending doses of AUTO2 to determine the maximum tolerated dose and establish a recommended dose. The second part of the study is an expansion phase where patients receive AUTO2 to further evaluate the safety, tolerability and clinical activity at this recommended dose.
Dr Jesus G. Berdeja, Director of Myeloma Research & Senior Investigator, Hematologic Malignancies, Sarah Cannon Research Institute said:
"BCMA CAR-T cell therapies have shown considerable promise in early clinical studies. A dual-targeted approach may minimise the risk for antigen negative escape and extend CAR-T treatment to patients with low density of BCMA antigen on the surface their cancer cells."
Dr Christian Itin, Autolus’ CEO added:
"Breaking the defence mechanisms of cancers against T-cells is key to unlocking the curative potential of CAR-T cell therapies. AUTO2 is a first example of Autolus’ approach to specifically re-programme the patient’s own T-cells to minimise the risk of the cancer cells escaping treatment. With the start of the APRIL study we have transitioned to a clinical stage company; an important step on our path to build a fully integrated autologous CAR-T cell company with a portfolio of differentiated therapies for the treatment of patients with cancer."