National Cancer Institute Background
Patients with chemotherapy-refractory, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have poor prognoses. CD19 and CD20 are promising targets for the treatment of B-Cell malignancies. However, despite the initial promising results from anti-CD19 CAR therapy, only 30-35% of patients with DLBCL achieve remissions lasting longer than 2-3 years after anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. Relapse and non-response are likely due to diminished CD19 expression after anti-CD19 therapy and low expression of CD19 in some lymphomas.
Technology Overview
To overcome the limitations of the CD19 CAR T therapy, inventors developed an improved CAR targeting both CD19 and CD20. CARs targeting both CD19 and CD20 showed greater efficacy than the CD19 targeting CAR by itself. The structure of the CD20 binder in some of these CAR constructs is optimized to reduce death of CAR-expressing T cells and to promote retention of CAR expression. Also, these constructs are optimized to reduce retroviral recombination events.
Stage of Development
Pre-clinical (in vivo)
Benefits
Constructs optimized to reduce retroviral recombination events
Bicistronic expression vector allows for more efficient targeting of two antigens versus two separate vectors
Bicistronic construct targeting both CD19 and CD20 increases the durability of response often limited by diminished expression of CD19 on tumor cell surfaces after anti-CD19 therapy
Applications
Treatment of CD19-positive malignancies such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Treatment of CD20-positive malignancies such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma
Treatment of autoimmune diseases via B cell depletion
Opportunity
NCI is seeking parties interested in the co-development or licensing of this invention for immunotherapy
E-065-2021