Chimeric Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:CHM), a clinical-stage cell therapy company, has obtained an exclusive option to license the CORE-NK platform with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).
This development casts Chimeric as an ASX leader in cell therapy and as an emerging global cell therapy company.
What is CORE-NK?
CORE-NK stands for Clinically validated, Off the shelf, Robust, Enhanced Natural Killer. It’s a cell therapy platform technology, created by CWRU, that provides a foundation for the development of multiple next-generation clinical products targeting cancer.
Natural killer (NK) cells have innate safety features and can target and destroy cancer cells through both indirect and direct mechanisms, but they are not naturally abundant or active enough to overcome cancer.
Dr David Wald, a leading expert in immuno-oncology at CWRU in Ohio, USA, is working to change that. He designed and developed the CORE-NK platform, which works by bolstering the natural anti-cancer properties of healthy donor NK cells so they can attack and overcome cancer.
In June, the three-year Phase 1 study of the platform, conducted for both solid tumours and blood cancers, came to an end.
The trial examined the safety, bioactivity and efficacy of the CORE-NK platform cells at three dose levels, in patients with both blood cancers and solid tumours.
Clinical data is expected in 2022.
Transformative platform
“This is truly transformative for Chimeric,” CEO Jennifer Chow said. “It provides us with a platform technology that triples our current portfolio by enabling us to accelerate the development of multiple new, off the shelf, NK cell assets that work in perfect synergy with our existing pipeline.”
“We could not be more excited to be bringing the CORE-NK platform into our portfolio and to be working in collaboration with Dr Wald and the expert team at CWRU."
Chimeric will begin a research collaboration with CWRU to further enhance and engineer the CORE-NK platform cells to develop a next-generation CORE-NK platform and a number of initial CAR-NK products.
“The clinical experience we’ve had with the CORE-NK platform gives us tremendous confidence in the development path for optimised NK and CAR NK products," Dr Wald said.
“We look forward to working in close collaboration with Chimeric to bring forward the next generation of NK and CAR NK products to the clinic.”
First CARs off the rank
With the clinical validation from the phase 1 trial complete, the CORE-NK platform provides the ideal off the shelf platform for the development of next-generation NK and CAR-NK products.
In 2022, four new Chimeric assets will be developed as part of the platform, adding to the company’s growing portfolio.
The company intends to develop three initial CAR-NK products using the CORE-NK platform, leveraging its existing pipeline of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs): a CLTX CAR-NK (CHM 1301), a CDH17 CAR-NK (CHM 2301) and a currently undisclosed target CAR-NK (CHM 3301).
Clinical trials are planned for 2023 targeting blood cancers and solid tumours.
Chimeric is exploring additional opportunities to leverage the CORE-NK platform to develop additional NK and CAR NK products through internal development and/or partnerships with other biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
Exclusive right to license
Under the terms of the option agreement, Chimeric has the exclusive right to license the CORE-NK platform for development and commercialisation in cancer.
The company is moving rapidly to license the platform and expects to pay CWRU development milestones and industry-standard royalty payments based on commercial net sales.
Upfront fees associated with the agreement will come from existing cash reserves.
The area of natural killer cells has seen widespread investment and partnership interest with numerous large transactions involving companies such as Merck, Takeda, Janssen and Kite.