Carina Biotech collaborates to advance CAR-T therapy in advanced bowel cancer

Biotech News: Carina Biotech recently announced that it has raised $5.4 million to initiate a clinical trial for the treatment of advanced colorectal (bowel) cancer with the company’s lead LGR5-targeted CAR-T program.

Singapore-based CellVec will manufacture clinical-grade lentivirus – the first critical step in making LGR5 CAR-T cells for a first-in-human clinical trial for advanced bowel cancer patients in late 2022.

Professor Simon Barry, CarinaBiotech’s Vice President of Cell Therapy Manufacturing, said “We are delighted to be working with CellVec because of their outstanding track record and expertise. Their flexibility and willingness to incorporate Carina’s proprietary manufacturing process was an important consideration in the selection of CellVec as our service provider.”

Dr Ang Peng Tiam, Chairman of CellVec and Medical Director of Parkway Cancer Centre, commented “The partnership with Carina Biotech marks a significant milestone for us to facilitate the furtherance of gene therapies. We look forward to supporting Carina in the successful development of its LGR5 CAR-T cells.”

Carina’s LGR5 CAR-T cells are targeted at LGR5, a cancer stem cell marker that is highly expressed on colorectal cancer (and other cancers). Colorectal (bowel) cancer is the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25-34 and Australia’s second deadliest cancer overall. Young-onset colorectal cancer is often diagnosed at later stages, which have a much poorer prognosis.

Carina’s pre-clinical studies of the LGR5-targeted CAR-T cell have shown highly promising results with complete tumour regression and no tumour recurrence. They have also demonstrated impressive tumour access and prolonged CAR-T cell survival.

Carina Biotech CEO, Dr Deborah Rathjen, said “We are continuing to see impressive results with our LGR5 CAR-T cell in pre-clinical testing. After our recent successful capital raise and welcoming new impact investors to our company, we are on track for a pre-IND submission in Q2 of 2022 and an IND submission to the FDA in the second half of 2022. These are important milestones towards the initiation of a Phase I/II clinical trial in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.”

There are two CAR-T therapies available in Australia for blood cancers. Novartis’ Kymriah and Kite Pharma’s Yescarta are publicly funded, with its manufacturing facilities in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Brisbane.