CytoImmune Therapeutics to Present Preclinical Data Highlighting Potential of Novel TRACK-NK Cells to Selectively Target and Kill Hematologic and Solid Tumor Cancer Cells

November 10, 2022 |

3 min read

CytoImmune Therapeutics today announced new preclinical data highlighting the potential of the company’s tumor-reactive NK (TRACK-NK) cell program, CYTO-102, to potently and selectively kill tumor cells with the mechanism of action of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CytoImmune Therapeutics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company that is developing a novel class of engineered natural killer (NK) cell-based cancer therapies, today announced new preclinical data highlighting the potential of the company’s tumor-reactive NK (TRACK-NK) cell program, CYTO-102, to potently and selectively kill tumor cells with the mechanism of action of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The data are being presented today during a poster presentation at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 37th Annual Meeting, being held November 10-13, 2022, virtually and in Boston.

CytoImmune has engineered its TRACK-NK (CYTO-102) cells for clinical use by inducing expression of soluble IL-15 that is designed to activate and expand the endogenous immune response in patients. Further, these cells are designed to act as “serial killer” cells, making them capable of attacking multiple tumor cell targets in a short period of time. CytoImmune is currently advancing CYTO-102 in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

“Serial killer NK cells are rare in the immune system but have immense potential to deliver rapid anti-tumor responses through direct cell killing for the treatment of a number of challenging cancers,” said Michael Caligiuri, M.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer of CytoImmune. “Combined with the ability of these cells to stimulate the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer cells, we’ve designed our TRACK-NK cells to deliver the most potent anti-tumor response possible, while maintaining good tolerability. We look forward to sharing these exciting data with the scientific community at SITC and the opportunity to bring meaningful treatments forward for patients with cancer.”

The findings to be presented highlight the dual mechanism of these cells to both induce tumor-reactivity by activating and expanding immune response as well as serial killing of multiple target cells. To evaluate their potential, CytoImmune conducted several in vitro and in vivo studies with TRACK-NK (CYTO-102). Findings showed:

TRACK-NK (CYTO-102) cells led to serial killing of both hematologic tumor cells (lymphoma) and solid tumor cells (NSCLC) in vitro
Further, when combined with tumor antigen directed monoclonal antibodies, TRACK-NK (CYTO-102) cells led to enhanced serial killing and conversion of an NK-insensitive cell line to sensitive in vitro
TRACK-NK (CYTO-102) cells effectively “cycle” the expression of CD16 and as is common for serial killers, expression is rapidly restored following resting or cryopreservation of the cells

“We are very excited to present these new preclinical data with our TRACK-NK cells, demonstrating the potential dual tumor-reactive and serial killing mechanism, aimed at providing potent and durable anti-tumor responses,” said Christina Coughlin, M.D., chief executive officer of CytoImmune. “With CYTO-102, we have the potential to offer an off-the-shelf therapy for patients with cancer and these data support its continued evaluation. Our Phase 1 trial with CYTO-102 is ongoing, and we look forward to building a further understanding of its full potential in humans with initial clinical data expected in 2023.”

About CytoImmune

CytoImmune Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cancer immunotherapy products designed to utilize the power of the engineered effector cells to activate the patient’s immune system to effectively eliminate cancer cells.

The company is advancing a differentiated pipeline of off-the-shelf tumor-reactive NK cell therapies in non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors, as well as acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma, using proprietary, robust and well characterized NK cell expansion and engineering technologies that are designed to provide effector cell therapy with broad immune stimulation, to enable effective tumor killing in both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. For more information, please visit Cytoimmune.com.