On February 26, 2024 Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: COEP) (the "Company" or "Coeptis"), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapy platforms for cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases, reported that it has expanded its exclusive license agreement with the University of Pittsburgh to include autoimmune indications as part of its ongoing development of SNAP-CAR T and SNAP-CAR NK (Press release, Coeptis Therapeutics, FEB 26, 2024, View Source [SID1234640469]). This amended agreement builds upon the original exclusive license agreement with the University of Pittsburgh for SNAP-CAR T Cells, a "universal" CAR T technology platform designed to target multiple antigens simultaneously and potentially address a range of hematologic and solid tumors, and a recent amendment to the agreement for SNAP-CAR NK, an allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy platform.
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Autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, are known to result from autoreactive B cells. Recent research, including a paper just published in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that CD19-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, which have proven to be highly efficient in B cell malignancies, can also target autoreactive B cells that trigger autoimmune diseases.
Research published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications demonstrated the ability of SNAP-CAR to provide a powerful adaptor strategy for fully programmable targeting of engineered cells to multiple antigens, including CD19. Based on these findings, Coeptis Therapeutics plans to expand the development of the SNAP-CAR platform to target the multibillion-dollar autoimmune disease market in addition to hematologic and solid tumors.
"We remain committed to developing these remarkable technologies as treatments for various indications across oncology where there is immense unmet need, however we also recognize the enormous potential for these platform technologies to address and possibly revolutionize the treatment landscape of autoimmune diseases," said Dave Mehalick, President and CEO of Coeptis Therapeutics. "Our SNAP-CAR technologies have the potential to position us at the forefront of next-generation autoimmune directed therapies targeting multiple antigens through combinatorial use of different adaptors."
"We are again excited to expand our license with Coeptis," said Jason Lohmueller, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and Immunology in the Division of Surgical Oncology Research, University of Pittsburgh. "Leveraging the universal SNAP-CAR technology, may bring multiple exciting and revolutionary treatments modalities to the clinic for diverse indications in oncology and autoimmune disease, benefiting patients and the entire healthcare industry."
According American Autoimmune Related Disease Association, there are more than 100 autoimmune diseases impacting 1 in every 5 Americans, 75% of whom are women. These diseases are among the top 10 causes of death in America, causing great pain and suffering, with significant socioeconomic impact as well. Globally, the treatment market is forecasted to grow from $7.68 billion in 2024 to $12.64 in 2028, to according to The Business Research Company.