Allogene reported positive data with its autologous CAR-T therapy targeting CD19

CLINICAL AND REGULATORY

Allogene hints at allogeneic CAR T durability with ALLO-510A data

During an R&D presentation from Allogene Therapeutics, the company reported updated data from ALLO-501A, an autologous CAR T cell therapy targeting CD19, demonstrating complete responses lasting more than two years in patients with large B cell lymphoma. At the latest data cut, nine of the 10 patients who were in complete response one year ago remained in CR. Two patients had durable CRs lasting more than two years, and a third was approaching the 24-month evaluation. At 29% across all patients treated (14/48), the complete response rate is lower than those of autologous CAR T cells, but patients who continue responding for six months appear likely to achieve long-term effects.

Sana Biotechnology announced layoffs and pipeline prioritization

Sana Biotechnology announced a portfolio prioritization and headcount reduction of about 15% to focus on programs near the clinic and maintain cash runway into 2025. The company said it expected to submit five INDs by YE24, but will discontinue internal investment in SC187, its cardiomyocytes for heart failure program. Planned INDs include one in 2022 for SC291, its CD19-targeted allogeneic CAR T, as well as two in 2023 for SG295 and SC263, the company’s in vivo CAR T with CD8-targeted fusogen delivery of a CD19-targeted CAR and CD22-targeted allogeneic CAR T, respectively. Sana reported $485.8 million cash on Sept. 30 and a nine-month operating loss of $190.8 million.

DEALS AND FINANCING

GSK ends deal with Immatics focused on TCR therapies

Immatics said GSK terminated the companies’ TCR-T collaboration, effective Dec. 26 for reasons “unrelated to the programs and the progress achieved in the collaboration.” GSK, which paid Immatics €45 million ($50 million) up front at the outset of the collaboration in 2020, terminated also the TCR cell therapy programs with Lyell Immunopharma and Adaptimmune Therapeutics last month.

CAR T company Immunochina raises RMB500M in a year

Beijing Immunochina Pharmaceuticals increased the amount of financing it has received in the past 12 months to more than RMB500 million ($69 million) with a series D+ round of hundreds of millions of RMB. The series D+ was co-led by Beijing Zhongguancun Science City Innovation Development and Beijing Innovation Industry Investment and will be used to support an NDA application for the company’s CAR T cell therapy product, IM19, which is targeting lymphoma indications.

TCR company CorreGene raises $14 million in pre-A+ round

Beijing CorreGene Biotechnology will advance its pipeline of TCR protein and T cell assets with a RMB100 million ($14 million) pre-A+ round of financing jointly led by Riverhead Capital Investment Management and Xinrui Medical, with participation from Longmen Capital. CorreGene’s most advanced assets are in the clinic and target indications in cervical, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer. The company is led by Chairman and CEO Xingwang Xie, who earned his PhD at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cell and gene company Brl Medicines raises its series B

Cell and gene therapy company Brl Medicine will invest the proceeds of a series B in its CRISTARS gene editing and universal Quikin CAR T and enhanced T cell platforms. The company, which is led by GSK and JNJ alum Biao Zheng, said pediatric thalassemia patients treated with its CRISPR gene-editing treatment have now been transfusion-independent for more than two years. Shanghai Free Trade Zone Fund led the financing, which amounted to hundreds of millions of yuan, with participation from Oriental Fortune, Tasly Capital, Betta Fund, and Gopher Assets.