Technology

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are antibody fragments linked to activation molecules, that recognise molecules specifically present on the surface of cancer cells. These CAR complexes are genetically engineered into the immune cell (T cell or NK cell) genome and expressed on their surface. When the antibody fragment engages with the cancer cell, the activation molecules signal the immune cell to kill the cancer cell by releasing toxic granules or cytokines that cause death of the cancer cell. They keep killing cancer cells until exhausted. We multiply these aggressive immune cells and we also help them avoid messages from the tumour environment to be disabled.

The Cartherics allogeneic (off-the-shelf) technology is based on umbilical cord blood cells from rare histocompatible donors that are converted to stem cells (iPSCs) and gene edited to introduce CARs and to knock-out genes that inhibit immune function. These are then converted into CAR-T or CAR-NK cells to enhance the patients’ own immune system to combat any cancer) cell growth. These cells immediately attack the cancer and some can remain long-term to prevent relapse. They retain the CAR and deletion of the immune inhibitory gene(s)and hence provide cover more broadly than do antibodies and other cancer drugs.

Cartherics has an autologous CAR-T product treating ovarian cancer, entering clinical trials in 2024-25. The lead allogeneic product is expected to enter clinical trials for ovarian cancer in 2025. There is a pipeline of additional products focused on solid tumours following close behind. The Cartherics platform is expected to bring significant options for effective therapy across a wide spectrum of cancer types.

The CAR target is a neo-antigen present on the cell surface of more than 90% of ovarian cancer cells. T cells or NK cells with this CAR will seek and bind to ovarian cancer cells via the CAR and signal the immune cell to kill these dangerous cells. Cartherics is also researching how to use these CAR- cells to engage the patients own immune system to join the attack on targeted cancers.