Abintus Bio Enters Technology Agreement to Enhance In Vivo-Reprogrammed CAR Cell Potency and Durability Against Hematologic Malignancies and Solid Tumors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Abintus Bio, Inc. (Abintus), a company pioneering first-in-class, off-the-shelf medicines that reprogram cells directly in vivo, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the use of its next generation signaling technology (“1XX”) in Abintus’ In Vivo CAR-X products. These products have the potential to overcome the challenges of ex vivo CAR technologies and dramatically improve outcomes and access for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

“Having the opportunity to directly reprogram the innate and adaptive immune cell subsets with retroviral vectors, while also extending CAR immune cell function and persistence with 1XX, is an advantage for Abintus’ approach and has the potential to establish potent anti-tumor immune responses,” said Michel Sadelain, M.D., Ph.D., MSK’s Director of the Center for Cell Engineering and inventor of 1XX signaling technology. “I look forward to our continued support as these products advance towards clinical investigation.”

1XX signaling technology is designed to improve the persistence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered cells by sustaining cellular effector functions without exhaustion. To date, 1XX CARs have demonstrated superior preclinical activity compared to conventional CAR technologies in certain hematologic and solid tumors including B-cell malignancies, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. 1XX CARs are currently under clinical evaluation in multiple cancers. In Vivo CAR-X products are designed to simultaneously target both adaptive and innate immune effector cells, including active T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells, to produce a potent and durable immune response against hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, and improve patient outcomes and access.

“For in vivo reprogramming to have a profound impact, it will require safe and well tolerated gene delivery and functional expression as well as manufacturing that can scale to meet the patient need,” said Malcolm Brenner, M.D., Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Director of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Houston Methodist Hospital and advisor. “Abintus’ retroviral technology is an ideal platform for in vivo reprogramming because it addresses these key criteria, and has a compelling precedent for safety, tolerability and proof of principle in patients with intravenous administration. Adding 1XX signaling technology further strengthens Abintus’ differentiated approach.”

Abintus’ initial products targeting hematologic and solid tumors are poised to enter clinical evaluation as early as 2023.

“One of the most exciting and impactful areas of research is the reprogramming of cells directly inside a patient. Inspired by nature, Abintus’ in vivo reprogramming technology is designed to empower patients with a diverse team of living drugs that can launch a coordinated attack against their cancer,” said Nicholas A. Boyle, Ph.D., CEO and cofounder of Abintus. “The insights gained from our historical observations with in vivo reprogramming in patients, combined with 1XX technology and our commercial-ready manufacturing process, positions our company with the knowhow, technology and experience to make in vivo genetic medicines a reality for patients.”

All inquiries: info@abintusbio.com

MSK Disclosure: As a result of the licensing arrangement noted in this release, MSK has institutional financial interests in the 1XX technologies and in Abintus. Researchers at MSK, including Dr. Sadelain, have intellectual property rights related to the 1XX technologies.

About Abintus Bio, Inc.

Driven by the founding vision of Empowering patients from within, Abintus is developing novel, off-the-shelf therapies that reprogram cells directly in vivo to improve patient outcomes and access. These therapies are based on the Abintus Modular Viral Platform (MVP) and have the potential to reprogram any cell type in the body and to target a range of diseases. The company’s initial In Vivo CAR-X products are designed to produce potent and durable immune responses against both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Abintus’ initial funding syndicate included Takeda Ventures and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Therapy Acceleration Program^® (LLS TAP). Abintus Bio, Inc. (“Abintus”) is headquartered in San Diego. www.abintusbio.com.

About In Vivo CAR-X Products

Based on Abintus’ Modular Viral Platform (MVP) technology, In Vivo CAR-X products are off-the-shelf medicines that are designed to produce potent and durable immune responses against hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. In Vivo CAR-X products have the potential to simultaneously reprogram a range of active immune effector cells directly in vivo with a next-generation Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR). The resulting repertoire of CAR immune cells may have favorable properties including persistence, proliferation and tumor homing, and may include adaptive and innate immune cell subtypes such as CAR-T (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺), CAR-NK, CAR-NKT, CAR-γδ T cells, and others (collectively, “In Vivo CAR-X”).

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