On May 30, 2015 Bellicum Pharmaceuticals reported the presentation of a poster at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) highlighting the potent anti-tumor effects of CAR T cells constructed with its novel, proprietary, dual co-stimulatory domain, "MC" (MyD88/CD40) (Press release, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, MAY 30, 2015, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2055229 [SID:1234505205]). MC is incorporated alongside Bellicum’s proprietary CaspaCIDe safety switch in the Company’s CIDeCAR product candidates, including BPX-401.
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The studies evaluated in vivo tumor-killing abilities of two different CIDeCARs: CD19-targeted CIDeCAR cells (BPX-401) were evaluated in a Raji lymphoma model, and Her2-targeted CIDeCAR cells were evaluated in an SK-BR-3 breast cancer model.
Study Highlights:
MC co-stimulation resulted in increased T cell proliferation and enhanced efficacy in lymphoma and solid tumor models in vivo compared to control CAR T cells that included the more commonly utilized co-stimulatory molecule, CD28.
The Company’s CD19-targeted CAR (BPX-401) elicited dose-dependent elevation of cytokines, analogous to cytokine release syndrome, but cytokine levels were rapidly normalized upon administration of rimiducid, without loss of tumor control.
The percentage of BPX-401 cells eliminated upon rimiducid administration was dose-dependent across a 2-3 log range.
"We believe the development of more potent CAR T cells will be critical to success in bulky lymphomas and solid tumors," commented Tom Farrell, Bellicum’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "These data suggest that our novel, dual co-stimulatory domain, MC, enhances anti-tumor efficacy compared to traditional CAR constructs.
Furthermore, the risk of toxicity can be mitigated through our proprietary CaspaCIDe safety switch, potentially in such a way that therapeutic benefit can be maintained even when the switch is activated."
The poster, titled "MyD88/CD40-based costimulation to enhance survival and proliferation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells," can be accessed on the Events and Presentations page of the Company’s website.