Using A Modular Approach to Develop Oncolytic Cell Therapies

“We [are trying] to simplify this and putting it all into one blueprint... putting all the components within a single construct really makes it easy for us. So, we're building kind of a similar blueprint, every time we build a cell therapy, we just might, from a modular perspective, switch in and out some of the components.”

Celyad Oncology is developing a number of allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies, including CYAD-211, which is currently being evaluated in the phase 1 IMMUNICY trial (NCT04613557). The company presented positive interim data from IMMUNICY at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2021 Congress in June 2021 that showed dose-dependent engraftment up to dose level 3 of 300 x 106 cells per infusion. 

No graft-versus-host disease, dose-limiting toxicities, or CAR T-cell related encephalopathy syndromes have been reported to date. Two of the 5 evaluable patients achieved a partial response and CYAD-211 cells were detected by polymerase chain reaction-based methods in all 6 patients with evidence of a dose-dependent increase in cell engraftment.

GeneTherapyLive spoke with Filippo Petti, chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and Charles Morris, MBBS, chief medical officer, Celyad Oncology, about the positive data presented at EHA 2021. They also discussed how their modular platform to develop cell therapies can help them easily switch targets.

REFERENCE

Celyad Oncology presents updates on allogeneic CAR T clinical candidates and shRNA-based preclinical concepts at research & development day. News release. Celyad Oncology. July 20, 2021. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210720005854/en/Celyad-Oncology-Presents-Updates-on-Allogeneic-CAR-T-Clinical-Candidates-and-shRNA-based-Preclinical-Concepts-at-Research-Development-Day