Allogene Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Findings Supporting an Allogeneic DLL3 CAR for Small Cell Lung Cancer and Development of an Inducible TurboCAR™ at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual 2020 Meeting
“Our goal is to remain at the forefront of innovation in allogeneic cell therapy, and these studies inform our ability to optimize AlloCAR T therapy for both hematologic and solid tumors,” said
In research featured during the virtual meeting, genetically modified T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) were screened, characterized and ranked against targets using in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Highly active DLL3 CARs displaying long-term killing potential were engineered to contain a rituximab off-switch. Lead DLL3 candidates were tested in vivo and robust efficacy was observed in both subcutaneous and systemic models of SCLC. Additionally, while DLL3 RNA has normal tissue expression in the brain, pituitary and testis, toxicity studies using subcutaneous and intracranial tumor models showed no tissue damage in the brain or pituitary.
In a second poster, researchers presented data on a version of Allogene’s TurboCAR technology that allows cytokine activation signaling to be selectively controlled by a small-molecule on-switch. This iTurboCAR can be activated by a clinically validated dimerizer drug to improve the potency and persistence of CAR T cells. Results of this research indicated that iTurboCARs can be tailored for diverse, programmable and combinatorial signaling outputs. Further, iTurboCAR T cells may have the potential to provide the benefits of cytokine signaling while minimizing safety risks associated with concomitant cytokine therapy or constitutive cytokine secretion.
The AACR posters are now available at www.aacr.org. Details are noted below.
Poster: #3239
Title: SMIC CAR T Cells: CAR T with Temporally-Controlled, Programmable Cytokine Signaling Outputs
Virtual Poster Session Date & Time: Adoptive Cell Therapy 3,
Poster: #6599
Title: Screening and Characterization of AlloCAR T Targeting DLL3 for the Treatment of Small Cell
Virtual Poster Date & Time: Adoptive Cell Therapy 5,
Allogene’s AlloCAR T programs utilize Cellectis technologies, under which Allogene is exclusively licensed from Cellectis. Allogene holds global development and commercial rights for investigational candidates targeting DDL3.
About
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 to further research and develop an anti-DLL3 AlloCAR T therapy, the potential benefits of an anti-DLL3 AlloCAR T therapy, the ability to further research and develop any TurboCAR or iTurboCAR therapy, the potential benefits of any TurboCARs or iTurboCAR therapy, the ability to manufacture an AlloCAR T, TurboCAR or iTurboCAR therapy, 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™ and iTurboCAR™ are trademarks of
Allogene Media/Investor Contact:
Chief Communications Officer
(714) 552-0326
Christine.Cassiano@allogene.com
Source: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.