Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Cartherics Announce Collaboration to Develop Autologous CAR-T Cell Therapy for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 08 November 2022: The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (“Peter Mac”) and Cartherics Pty Ltd (“Cartherics”) announced today they have entered into a Collaborative Development Program Agreement (CDPA) to develop Cartherics’ proprietary autologous CAR-T cell therapy (CTH-001) for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

“Patients with advanced stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas often have few treatment options left when their disease progresses, and experience lower quality of life and poor life expectancy. We are impressed by the laboratory results achieved by Cartherics’ scientists. We are eager to see if evidence of efficacy in preclinical models translates into an effective, safe therapy for patients using a highly innovative approach with autologous CAR-T cells,” said Professor Simon Harrison from Peter Mac.

Professor Alan Trounson, CEO of Cartherics, said “We are excited to be working with a premier global cancer centre to advance CTH-001 into human clinical trials. We are very pleased to partner with Peter Mac’s Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy, which was established in 2019 with backing from the Australian Federal Government and generous donors to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation. In addition to their outstanding clinical research in oncology, Peter Mac through Cell Therapies Pty Ltd has substantial experience in manufacturing of cell therapies for cancer.”

The key aspects of the collaborative research are setting up clinical-scale manufacturing of CTH-001 and conducting a Phase I clinical trial. This will initially enrol six patients with refractory CTCL. The primary goal of the clinical trial is to investigate the safety of CTH-001 in this patient population.

ENDS

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About Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) is the term applied to a family of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancers that affect the skin; this type of lymphoma is derived from aberrant T cells. Although these diseases are relatively rare, they can significantly affect both quality and length of life. The early stages of these diseases are often difficult to detect. Later stages of CTCL carry poor prognosis and are inadequately treated by currently approved therapies.  Skin infections may further accelerate the progression of the disease, resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality.

About CTH-001

CTH-001 is a Cartherics’ proprietary product candidate based on autologous (i.e., patient-derived) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells targeting tumor associated glycoprotein 72 (TAG-72). Cartherics’ researchers identified that TAG-72 is present on the aberrant T cells associated with CTCL but is essentially absent from normal T cells. Non-malignant T cells obtained from the blood of the CTCL patient to be treated are reprogrammed to bind specifically to the tumor cells expressing TAG-72.  Upon infusion into the patient, the CTH-001 CAR-T cells are expected to destroy the CTCL-associated malignant T cells.

About Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer. The centre has 3,300 staff, including more than 750 laboratory and clinical researchers, all focused on providing better treatments, better care and potential cures for cancer.

The Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy at Peter Mac supports, develops and translates novel cell and gene therapies and is able to deploy its established suppliers and manufacturing partners such as Cell Therapies Pty Ltd to enable the use of these products in clinical trials for patients with cancer.                                                                             

About Cell Therapies Pty Ltd (“CTPL”)

Cell Therapies is a leading provider of onshore cGMP contract manufacturing and deployment services for cell and gene therapy products in the Asia Pacific. Building on more than 20 years’ experience, and strategic partnerships within the ecosystem of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Cell Therapies provides a complete process development and GMP manufacturing and supply service from translational studies through to large-scale commercial supply. This unique capability positions Cell Therapies to serve as a single access point for regional deployment of cellular therapies for our clients.

About Cartherics

Cartherics is a privately held biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia that is rearming the body’s immune system to fight cancer.  It is developing cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, with a portfolio of CAR-T and CAR-NK cell products.  The Company’s allogeneic (“off-the-shelf”) cell platform is based upon induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from donated cord blood that can be differentiated into NK cells, T cells and other cells of the immune system.  The iPSCs are genetically engineered to provide enhanced function for the derived NK and other immune cells.

The Company is also developing autologous CAR-T cell therapies. These use the patient’s own immune system T-cells, which are modified to be effective against the patient’s cancer cells. CTH-001 for the treatment of CTCL is the first product candidate progressing into human clinical trials. A second candidate, CTH-004, is being developed for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

For More Information

Media Contacts

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre:

Communications

Phone: +61 417 123 048
Email  communications@petermac.org

Cartherics:

Christine Filippis

Phone: +61 419 119 866

Email: christine@teraze.com.au