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Cell biology; cell culture and expansion; gene editing using lentiviral vectors or CRISPR/Cas9; assessment of genomic stability of stem cells and their differentiation products; animal models for cancer; immune cell biology and function assays; differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into T cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells, macrophages and other immune cell types; Immune cell killing function in vitro; assessment of immune cell therapies for control of human cancers.

Cartherics has developed a platform technology that underpins production of immune therapies based on different killer cell types, multiple CARs targeting cancer antigens, and suppression of immune inhibitory genes that can prevent the cells ability to attack tumours. The products evolving from the pipeline will be developed through clinical trials and partnered for development and commercialisation with other and larger biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Cartherics has a strong research team experienced in immunology, stem cell and cancer biology, product development, animal cancer models, patenting, product development and commercialisation. The research team generates the new ideas and brings these to proof of principle, the translation team generates the preclinical data, and the development team develops the products for clinical trial. Products are progressed in the product pipeline based on careful assessment of the intellectual property (IP) environment, generation of new IP and/or negotiating rights to third party IP, assessment of efficacy in animal models and evaluation of the clinical need.

Cartherics approach is to utilise the power of pluripotent stem cells, which are immortal and may be gene edited, to produce a continuous stream of products with therapeutic potential as “off-the-shelf” availability for patients with intractable cancers. The potential to mix and match CAR targets, immune cell types (T cells, NK cells, macrophages, etc.) with check-point inhibitors, antibodies and other vehicles for cancer control is a powerful therapeutic platform that is different to any other company operating in this space.

Cartherics was formed in 2015 and began work in 2016. The company opened new state of the art PC2 and clean room laboratories close to Monash University. The company is establishing clinical scale product manufacturing and plans to enter clinical trials in 2025 (first autologous product) with other products closely following. The pipeline of products is growing, and the company has the capacity to continue to expand as it receives further grants and investment. The company has a strong work ethic and there are great opportunities for staff to grow with the company. It has strong connections to Monash University, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and other key partners that enables an innovative environment to flourish and expand.