Imugene Ltd (ASX:IMU, OTC:IUGNF)'s onCARlytics technology, combined with Eureka Therapeutics’ Artemis® T cell platform, is being presented as part of an abstract at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy’s Annual Meeting (ASGCT).
Targeting common cancer type
The combination targets hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most primary liver cancer type and the sixth most common cancer worldwide.
While HCC has systemic therapies and curative treatment options, CD19-targeting CAR T cell therapy has shown positive clinical outcomes, despite some ongoing challenges in bringing effective results into solid cancers.
The abstract, entitled ‘Effective combination immunotherapy using onCARlytics and Artemis CD19 T cells against hepatocellular carcinoma’, noted that the combination of onCARlytics and Artemis CD19 T cells demonstrated impressive in vivo anti-tumour responses in a human xenograft HepG2 model.
The presentation also indicated that the combination strategy can be applied to otherwise target-less tumours such as HCC, demonstrating the potential to be applied to a wide array of solid cancers as an effective immunotherapy approach.
The ASGCT event is now in its 26th year and attracts a range of professionals in gene and cell therapy, who observe new scientific research and technologies alongside peers in the industry.
It is being held from May 16 to 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, CA, USA.
About Imugene
Imugene is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing a range of new and novel immunotherapies that seek to activate the immune system of cancer patients to treat and eradicate tumours.
The company’s platform technologies seek to harness the body’s immune system against tumours, potentially achieving a similar or greater effect than synthetically manufactured monoclonal antibody and other immunotherapies.
IMU’s product pipeline includes multiple immunotherapy B-cell vaccine candidates and an oncolytic virotherapy (CF33) aimed at treating a variety of cancers in combination with standard of care drugs and emerging immunotherapies such as CAR Ts for solid tumours.
Backed by a team of international cancer experts, the company hopes to transform and improve the treatment of cancer and the lives of the millions of patients who need effective treatments.