Chimeric Therapeutics has cut out significant global supply chain problems facing the cell therapy industry by developing its own viral vector system to deliver its patented treatment for killing brain tumours or glioblastoma.
Viral vectors are tools commonly used by molecular biologists to deliver genetic material into cells.
Creating the viral vector system was a key milestone in commercialising the patented protein derived chimeric antigen receptor, or CLTX CAR T therapy and was developed and manufactured in partnership with world-renowned cancer research and treatment hospital, City of Hope, near Los Angeles.
Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord and whilst relatively rare, is almost always lethal, with less than 5 per cent of patients surviving more than five years.
In CAR T therapy, a patient’s own T-cells are taken from their body and “trained” before being put back in to target cancerous cells. The therapy uniquely utilises CLTX, a protein derived from scorpion toxin, as the tumour-targeting component of the treatment where the T-cells are enhanced by the protein from the scorpion toxin.
Viral vectors underpin the manufacture of a CAR T-cell therapy as they hold the genetic engineering instructions. The timely manufacturing and release of viral vectors is regarded as one of the most challenging and critical components of cell therapy operations.
Chimeric said the current shortage of vector manufacturing capability has significantly delayed other companies development programs, as well as challenging commercial manufacturers.
Given the difficulties, the company says developing the system is a critical milestone for Chimeric in supporting the broader phase 1 glioblastoma clinical program expansion of CLTX CAR T, also known as CHM 1101, as well as a new phase 1 clinical basket trial in solid tumours.
This enlarged clinical program requires coordinated expansion of Chimeric’s current technical functions.
Chimeric Therapeutics CEO and Managing Director, Jennifer Chow said: “Vector supply significantly challenges the cell therapy industry with current backlogs of more than a year to access vector manufacturing.”
“Securing vector for the expansion of our CHM 1101 development program enables us to move forward and is a clear demonstration of the benefit of our experienced cell therapy development team.”
Chimeric is developing several cell therapies to broaden its suite of potential treatments.
The company is aiming to develop another four new next-generation cell therapy assets, with plans for phase 1 clinical trials on solid tumours and blood cancers to start next year.
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By Matt Birney
