Allogene Therapeutics to Present Preclinical Findings Supporting TurboCAR™ Technology at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Virtual 2020 Annual Meeting
- Company Developed TurboCAR™ Technology Allows Cytokine Activation Signaling to be Engineered Selectively into CAR T Cells
- Preclinical Studies Provide Evidence That Cytokine Signaling Can Increase TurboCAR T Cell Activity While Avoiding Safety Risks of
Exogenous Cytokine Administration
Allogene’s internally developed TurboCAR technology allows cytokine activation signaling to be engineered selectively into CAR T cells. When applied to AlloCAR T therapies, TurboCAR has the potential to improve efficacy, overcome the potential for exhaustion, and reduce cell dose requirements. TurboCARs can be tailored with signaling domains from different cytokine receptors to enhance T cell activation and persistence. Results from the preclinical study demonstrated that this approach minimizes potential safety risks associated with exogenous cytokine administration since cytokine signaling activity is directed selectively to the engineered CAR T cells.
“Allogene is continually looking to develop innovative and impactful technologies capable of advancing the field of allogeneic cell therapy. We are very excited about the potential for TurboCAR technology to enhance the potency of engineered CAR T cells directed at hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. We look forward to continuing to advance this technology, starting with our first TurboCAR candidate, ALLO-605, a BCMA-directed AlloCAR T therapy for multiple myeloma. We anticipate filing an IND for ALLO-605 in 2021,” said
In this research, TurboCARs mimicking signaling from multiple cytokines were generated, and using an EGFRvIII tool CAR, were screened and selected based on CAR T cell manufacturability and in vitro serial killing activity. A range of functional assays demonstrated improvements in activity for TurboCAR T cells as compared to parental CAR T cells.
The ASGCT abstracts are now available at https://annualmeeting.asgct.org/am20/. Details are noted below.
Abstract #336
Title: TurboCAR™ T Cells: CAR T Cells with Constitutive, Programmable Cytokine Signaling Outputs
Virtual Poster Session Date & Time:
Allogene’s AlloCAR T programs utilize Cellectis technology. The EGFRvIII AlloCAR T program is licensed exclusively from Cellectis by Allogene. Allogene holds exclusive
About Allogene Therapeutics
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The press release may, in some cases, use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential," "proposed," "continue," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: the ability for TurboCARs to avoid safety risks, improve efficacy, overcome exhaustion or reduce cell dose requirements, the ability to manufacture TurboCARs, the timing and ability to submit an investigational new drug (IND) application and initiate a clinical trial for ALLO-605, the ability to develop allogeneic CAR T therapies for cancer and the potential benefits of AlloCAR T therapy. Various factors may cause differences between Allogene’s expectations and actual results as discussed in greater detail in Allogene’s filings with the
AlloCAR T™ and TurboCAR T™ are trademarks of
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Allogene Media/Investor Contact:
Chief Communications Officer
(714) 552-0326
Christine.Cassiano@allogene.com
Source: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.