CMN-008 / CoImmune, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - LARVOL DELTA

CD19-CAR Cytokine Induced Killer Cells Armored with IL-18 Control Tumor Burden, Prolong Mouse Survival and Result in In Vivo Persistence of CAR-CIK Cells in a Model of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ASH 2023) - "CARCIK-1918 cells express both IL-18 and CAR with or without attenuated CD28 signaling. Furthermore, stimulation of CARCIK-1918 cells with CD19+ REH tumor cells increases the frequency of CAR-CIK cells with a memory phenotype and concurrent upregulation of the high affinity IL-2 receptor, CD25, and the costimulatory receptor CD137. Expression of IL-18 leads to higher engraftment of CAR-CIK cells in tumor bearing NSG mice compared to unarmored controls."

IO biomarker • Preclinical • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia • B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia • Gene Therapies • Hematological Malignancies • Leukemia • Oncology • CD19 • IL18 • IL2 • IL2RA • TNFRSF9

Manufacturing, Characterization and Anti-Tumor Activity of Allogeneic CD19-CAR Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) Cells Engineered with Non-Viral Sleeping Beauty Transposon System and Armored with IL-18 (ASH 2023) - "In conclusion, this study demonstrates that manufacturing of armored CAR-CIK cells using Sleepy Beauty non-viral transposon system and 2nd generation CD19 CAR with an attenuated CD28 costimulatory domain and armored with IL-18 is feasible and allows rapid and efficient expansion of highly potent CARCIK-1918 cells. These cells demonstrated potent and specific anti-tumor activity in vitro and a robust anti-leukemic activity in vivo. These findings provide the first reported successful production of IL-18 armored CAR-CIK cells offering a promising strategy for the treatment of B-cell malignancies."

IO biomarker • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia • B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia • Hematological Malignancies • Leukemia • Oncology • IFNG • IL18 • IL2 • NCAM1 • NKG2D

NON-VIRAL CD79B-TARGETED CARCIK CELLS ARMORED WITH IL-18: GOING BEYOND CD19 TARGETING (EHA 2025) - "Aims: This project aimed to develop non-viral IL-18-armored CARCIK cells targeting CD79b using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) platform for the treatment lymphoma patients... We demonstrated that targeting CD79b is an effective alternative to CD19-directed CAR T therapy for r/r NHL. CD79b_IL18.CARCIK cells showed enhanced antitumor activity under in vitro chronic stimulation as compared to CD79b.CARCIK cells. Notably,these cells effectively targeted CD19- tumor cells,highlighting their potential as a therapeutic option for lymphoma patients showing CD19 antigen loss or resistance to anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy."

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia • Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma • Hematological Malignancies • Leukemia • Lymphoma • Oncology • CD19 • CD79B • IL18

CoImmune Announces Publication of Preclinical Data Demonstrating Efficacy and Specificity of CAR-CIK Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (PRNewswire) - "CoImmune, Inc...announced the publication of preclinical data demonstrating that a strategy based on the company's proprietary Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Cytokine Induced Killer (CAR-CIK) cell platform provides advantages over single-targeting CARs including improved efficacy and high specificity in a model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML)....Specifically, the researchers found: CD123 and/or CD33 knockout impairs leukemia growth by modulating multiple cancer pathways in a model of NPM1-mutated AML. CAR-CIK cells mediate high antileukemic efficacy through transacting co-stimulation. Low affinity CAR-CIK cells decrease on-target/off tumor toxicity against endothelial and HSPCs in vitro. Low affinity CAR-CIK cells preserve antileukemic efficacy in vitro and improve antitumor control in vivo."

Preclinical • Acute Myelogenous Leukemia • Hematological Malignancies • Leukemia • Oncology

CoImmune Obtains License to IL-18 Armored CAR Technology (PRNewswire) - "CoImmune, Inc...announced it has exercised its option to obtain an exclusive license in the CD19-targeted, allogeneic cell therapy field to IL-18 Armored Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) technology under a prior agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). The company plans to couple the technology with allogeneic Cytokine Induced Killer (CIK) cells to launch the clinical development of CMN-008 (Armored CAR-CIK cells) with CD19 as the initial target in B-cell malignancies....CoImmune intends to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for CMN-008 in mid-2023 followed by the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial."

IND • Licensing / partnership • Hematological Malignancies • Oncology