Chimeric Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:CHM) has initiated the first patient in the third dose level of the chlorotoxin CAR T (CLTX CAR T) phase 1 trial at the City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organisations in the United States.
Notably, patients in this dose level will receive a total dose of 240 X 106CHM 1101 (CLTX CAR T) cells through dual routes of intratumoral and intraventricular administration.
Advancement to this dose level has come about rapidly following the completion of the second dose cohort without any dose-limiting toxicities in December 2021.
“More therapeutic benefit”
Chimeric CEO Jennifer Chow said: “We are very pleased with the continued progress of the trial.
“With the encouraging safety and activity signs shown in the lower two dose levels we are excited to be advancing to the higher dose levels that may provide more therapeutic benefit to patients with progressive or recurrent glioblastoma.”
About Chlorotoxin CAR T
According to Chimeric, Chlorotoxin CAR T (CLTX CAR T) cell therapy is a first and best-in-class CAR T cell therapy that has the potential to address the high unmet medical need of patients with recurrent or progressive glioblastoma.
CLTX CAR T cell therapy uniquely uses chlorotoxin (CLTX), a peptide derived from scorpion toxin, as the tumour-targeting component of the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).
CLTX and CLTX CAR T cells have been shown in preclinical models to bind more broadly and specifically to GBM cells than other targeting domains like EGFR, HER-2 or IL-13.
In preclinical models, CLTX CAR T cells also demonstrated potent anti-tumour activity against glioblastoma while not exhibiting any off-tumour recognition of normal human cells and tissues, indicating a potentially optimal safety and efficacy profile.