Targeting Relapsing/Refractory Multiple Myeloma With Cell Therapy

“We've engineered [CTLA4] to broaden the patient population who respond. We identified that there are patients who don't respond to first generation therapies, because of a genetic predisposition, and we've designed a molecule that will address that population. And that's about 40% of the population.”

Agenus is exploring many different avenues in treating cancer, including cell therapies, which are developed under their subsidiary Mink Therapeutics (formerly AgenTus Therapeutics). One such therapy being developed is agenT-797, an allogeneic unmodified invariant natural killer TT cell therapy.

AgenT-797 is being evaluated in a phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04754100) that dosed its first patient with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in April 2021. The trial is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and preliminary clinical activity of agenT-797, with the 3 primary outcomes focusing on safety, dose correlation to adverse events, and aiming to find a recommended dose. The therapy is also being looked at for the treatment of COVID-19.

GeneTherapyLive spoke with Agenus’ president and chief operating officer, Jennifer Buell, PhD, to learn more about the different cell therapies the company is developing. She also discussed the company’s background as a player in the cell therapy and cancer spaces.

REFERENCE

Agenus doses first cancer patient with iNKT cell therapy. News release. Agenus. April 14, 2021. Accessed August 5, 2021. https://investor.agenusbio.com/index.php/news-releases/news-release-details/agenus-doses-first-cancer-patient-inkt-cell-therapy