On January 19, 2021 Prescient Therapeutics (PTX) reported that three internal development programs for its immune receptor technology platform, OmniCAR (Press release, Prescient Therapeutics, JAN 19, 2021, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=prescient-therapeutics-asxptx-to-begin-three-next-gen-car-t-programs [SID1234574088]).
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OmniCAR is a next-generation CAR T therapy platform that offers multiple advantages over its predecessor such as control, safety, flexibility and efficacy.
CAR T is a form of immunotherapy that uses T-cells to directly target cancer cells, however, it has some limitations. As a result, OmniCAR is believed to be a more safe and effective treatment when treating cancers such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), breast, ovarian and gastric cancers and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
Essentially, AML causes patients to become extremely ill, which makes them unable to tolerate the vigorous nature of CAR T therapy. The disease is also known to rapidly mutate mid-therapy, which causes single CAR Ts to be ineffective.
Other downsides of CAR T therapy when treating solid tumours include its inability to overcome an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and the inability of T-cells to reach tumour sites and penetrate physical barriers.
When considering GBM and its rapidly progressive nature, CAR Ts ability to only target a single antigen makes it an ineffective treatment option.
Following a strategic review by Prescient and its scientific advisory board, it has been realised that using the OmniCAR technology to treat these cancers may have significant benefits over the conventional CAR T therapy.
Benefits include titration for improved safety, the ability to switch antigen targeting; co-arming CAR T against multiple antigens simultaneously, persistent dosing and improved efficacy.
The development programs are OmniCAR CD33 and CLL-1 for AML, OmniCAR Her2 for Her2+ solid tumours including breast, ovarian and gastric cancers, and OmniCAR Her2 and EGFRviii for GBM.
"We are delighted to select these internal programs as truly differentiated, next-generation CAR T products for Prescient. Each of the programs represents a tremendous market opportunity," Prescient Therapeutics Managing Director and CEO Steven Yatomi-Clarke said.
"Furthermore, Prescient will continue to seek collaborations with external parties on additional opportunities where OmniCAR can create additional next-generation CAR therapies with partners," he added.
Not only are the programs aimed at demonstrating the unique features and advantages of OmniCAR in treating patients, but they’ll also potentially move OmniCAR towards clinical programs.
Company shares are up 5 per cent and trading at 8.4 cents at 11:10 am AEDT.