Combining RNA and CAR T-Cell Therapy for Myasthenia Gravis

“We've even been able to administer these CAR T-cells in outpatient settings and in regional hospitals, apart from large medical centers. So, on one hand, we're trying to make CAR T and other engineered cell therapies available beyond oncology, and we're also trying to make them available beyond large medical centers and outside of the inpatient environment.”

Myasthenia gravis is a spontaneous, rare, neuromuscular autoimmune disorder characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. Cartesian Therapeutics is developing an RNA chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, Descartes-08, for the potential treatment of the disease.

Descartes-08 is directed against B-cell Maturation Antigen and is being evaluated in a phase 1/2 study (NCT04146051). Interim data from the study previously showed improvements on the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Clinical Classification and Myasthenia Gravis Composite scales.

CGTLive spoke with Michael Singer, MD, PhD, cofounder chief scientific officer, Cartesian, to learn more about Descartes-08 and the advantages of a combination RNA/CAR T-cell therapy. He discussed its mechanism of action as well as its potential in other rare conditions.

REFERENCE

Cartesian Therapeutics announces clinical responses in first cohort of phase 1b/2a trial in myasthenia gravis. News release. Cartesian Therapeutics. August 24, 2021. https://www.cartesiantherapeutics.com/cartesian-therapeutics-announces-clinical-responses-in-first-cohort-of-phase-1b-2a-trial-in-myasthenia-gravis/