MD Anderson, Allogene partner on development of allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced a new commercial development partnership with San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical company Allogene Therapeutics.
The collaboration will include translational and clinical research of allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies for multiple cancer types, including Allogene’s portfolio of candidates that target both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
Allogeneic — or “off-the-shelf” — CAR T-cell therapies are derived from donor cells. They are in early-stage clinical development.
“Autologous CAR T cells are being administered to only about 20% of eligible [patients with lymphoma],” Loretta Nastoupil, MD, associate professor in the department of lymphoma and myeloma at MD Anderson, told Healio. “Off-the-shelf approaches could eliminate wait time, provide more consistent product quality and have the potential to improve efficacy, as T cells from [patients with cancer] are frequently dysfunctional.”
Allogeneic therapies also could reduce costs by eliminating the need to manufacture individualized infusions and making cell therapy readily available at more centers, Nastoupil said. Autologous therapies are available at approximately 100 institutions nationwide, she said.
The 5-year collaboration on the design and execution of preclinical and clinical research is being directed by a joint steering committee that will be responsible for any regulatory filings. Nastoupil leads the committee, which includes the following MD Anderson faculty:
- Gautam Borthaku, MD, professor in the department of leukemia;
- Samer Srour, MB ChB, MS, assistant professor in the department of stem cell transplant; and
- Anne Tsao, MD, professor in the department of thoracic head and neck medical oncology.
The committee will determine research prioritization for which diseases to target, Nastoupil said.
Allogene will provide funding, developmental candidates and other support.
MD Anderson already is collaborating with Allogene on two phase 1/phase 2 clinical trials evaluating allogeneic CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapies for patients with B-cell lymphoma.
The latest data from the phase 1 ALPHA trial were presented by Sattva S. Neelapu, MD, professor and deputy chair of the department of lymphoma and myeloma at MD Anderson, during this year’s ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.
Neelapu’s group evaluated ALLO-501 (Allogene Therapeutics) — an anti-CD19 CAR T-cell product genetically modified to knock out T-cell receptor-alpha gene expression and reduce incidence of graft-versus-host disease — in combination with an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody.
The regimen appeared safe and demonstrated clinically relevant antitumor activity.
“CAR T cell therapy has transformed the management of relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma,” Nastoupil told Healio. “With a recent approval for the management of mantle cell lymphoma and additional approvals anticipated in indolent [non-Hodgkin lymphoma], we anticipate a broader group of patients will have CAR T-cell [therapy] options.”
Nastoupil said that the goals of improving access, expanding indications, enhancing efficacy and reducing treatment-related toxicities can be achieved by “leveraging the expertise of leaders in this field,” including those at MD Anderson.
“We strongly believe that Allogene is an outstanding collaborator for accomplishing these mutual goals,” she added.
Reference:
- Neelapu SS, et al. Abstract 8002. Presented at: ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program; May 29-31, 2020.
For more information:
Loretta Nastoupil, MD, can be reached at lnastoupil@mdanderson.org.
Collapse
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts