Cimeio Therapeutics Presents Data for its CD52 Shielding Variant at ASGCT
May 09 2024 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
-- Cimeio’s CD52 shielding variant protects
cells from depletion by Alemtuzumab while maintaining processing,
cell surface expression and function --
-- Program serves as the basis for a novel
treatment approach for patients with T-cell malignancies, and
aiding in improving the durability of allogeneic CAR T cells --
Cimeio Therapeutics, a biotechnology company leading the field
of epitope shielding, is presenting data for its CD52 program
during this week’s Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cell
& Gene Therapy (ASGCT) in Baltimore. The abstract is titled
“Molecular Shielding of CD52 Retains Expression, Anti-Phagocytic
Don’t Eat Me Function and Protects from Alemtuzumab-Mediated
Depletion.”
The study is the first showing that T cells expressing an
engineered CD52 can be effectively shielded from
Alemtuzumab-mediated depletion, while maintaining the general
features of this receptor. Cimeio's research team also showed for
the first time that CD52 mediates an anti-phagocytotic ‘Don’t Eat
Me’ signal, which is retained by the engineering. This program can
serve as the basis for a novel approach to treating patients with T
cell malignancies, non-genotoxic conditioning, and aiding in
improving the persistence of allogeneic CAR T cells.
“Exhaustive screening as well as comprehensive expression,
glycan and functional analyses allowed us to identify a base
editable point mutation that protected T cells from Alemtuzumab,
while allowing CD52 to maintain its cell surface expression,
processing and function,” said Stefanie Urlinger, Ph.D., Chief
Scientific Officer at Cimeio. “We are excited to explore the full
potential of our engineered CD52 receptor in the future. This can
represent a viable alternative to CD52 knock-out on allogeneic CAR
T cells, mediating resistance to lymphodepletion using Alemtuzumab
and perhaps also contributing to a prolonged in vivo
persistence.”
Dr. Urlinger will present the findings at 5:30 PM ET on Friday,
May 10, as poster number 1,778.
About Cimeio
Cimeio is the leader of the field of epitope shielding and is
developing a portfolio of Shielded-Cell & Immunotherapy Pairs™
(SCIP), novel immunotherapies which have the potential to transform
treatment of hematologic diseases. Cimeio develops state-of-the-art
immunotherapies, along with paired, modified variants of naturally
occurring cell surface proteins in HSCs. These novel epitope edited
variants maintain their function but are resistant to depletion
when targeted by the paired immunotherapy which has high affinity
for the wild-type version of these proteins. These immunotherapies
have significant therapeutic potential, which Cimeio is using to
develop curative treatments for patients with hematologic
malignancies, autoimmune disorders, and genetic diseases. Shielded
Cell and Immunotherapy Pairs and SCIP are trademarks of Cimeio
Therapeutics, Inc. For more information, please visit
www.cimeio.com.
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