Chimeric Therapeutics has ticked off a new milestone in its battle against an aggressive cancer called “glioblastoma” after the successful completion of a second dose cohort program in a phase 1 dose escalation study at a renowned cancer centre near Los Angeles. The company says all patients dosed as part of the trial have now advanced past the 28 day follow-up period without experiencing any side effects known as dose limiting toxicities.
According to Chimeric, the patients in the second dose cohort were administered with double the Chlorotoxin CAR T or “CLTX CAR T” cells of the first dose. Its completion represents a significant achievement for the company, given the trial introduced the use of a two-pronged administration program; intraventricular and intertumoral.
The company will now press ahead to its third dose cohort that will see patients administered with CLTX CAR T cells through the two channels with an elevated dose of CLTX CAR T cells.
CLTX CAR T cell therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that has the potential to address the currently unmet medical requirements of patients with recurrent and/or progressive glioblastoma. The disease is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord.
Glioblastoma often inflicts the elderly and is known to cause headaches, nausea, vomiting and seizures.
Chimeric Therapeutics CAR T cell therapy works by drawing blood from the patient and reprogramming its cells to find and attack cancerous cells after being re-infused back into the body.
Broadly speaking it is part of a broader move in the biotechnology space to embrace “immunotherapy”, a process that relies on repurposing a patient’s own cells to fight back against cancerous cells.
During preclinical trials, the CLTX CAR T cells demonstrated potent antitumor activity against glioblastoma without any off-tumour recognition of ordinary cells and tissues. The company says these characteristics are likely to point to the optimal safety and efficiency profile of the cells.
Chimeric Therapeutics Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Chow said:
“Chimeric is incredibly pleased to have reached this important milestone with our CLTX CAR T cell therapy. Demonstrating safety with dual routes of administration (ICT and ICV) at this 2nd CLTX CAR T dose level is very encouraging. We now look forward to further advancing the development of CLTX CAR T as we enter the 3rd dose level in the trial,”
Chimeric has a raft of 7 unique biotechnologies that are looking to tackle a range of 10 different diseases. Notably the company is looking to lock away 8 clinical trials by 2023. In the biotech world you only really need one to come off and it is glasses down and off to the races.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Matt Birney
