CAR T Therapies for Hematologic Malignancies and Solid Tumors

"CD19 is an overcrowded target. So, we have an alternative target, CD22, and this CAR is currently being developed for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We provided data last year at ASH and will provide some updates on this trial soon, so it's a very exciting CAR. It's a huge unmet medical need because a lot of people that relapse CD19 negative or after CD19 treatment then have no options.”

André Choulika, PhD

Cellectis is developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for both hematologic malignancies, including leukemias and lymphomas, and solid tumors. Their investigative therapies target a number of molecular targets for different indications, including CD19, CD20, CD22, and CD70.

Cellectis’ lead programs are allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies, including UCART22 for the potential treatment of relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, UCART123 for the potential treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, and UCARTCS1 for the potential treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

GeneTherapyLive spoke with André Choulika, PhD, chief executive officer and cofounder, Cellectis, to learn more about the company’s current focus and hematologic malignancies and expansion into solid tumors. He discussed therapies in development, including UCARTFAP, which is designed to penetrate the protective layer of fibroblasts in solid tumors.

REFERENCE

Cellectis provides business update and reports financial results for second quarter and first six months 2021. News release. Cellectis. August 5, 2021. https://www.cellectis.com/en/press/cellectis-provides-business-update-and-reports-financial-results-for-second-quarter-and-first-six-months-2021/