Cellectis Begins Phase 1 Clinical Trials for New Cancer Therapy
Cellectis announced its third quarter 2019 financial results and progress in clinical cancer trials. The company has dosed the first patient in its UCARTCS1 trial.
Biopharmaceutical company Cellectis announced its third quarter 2019 financial results and updates on its clinical development programs on November 6, 2019. The company has dosed the first patient in its MELANI-01 Phase 1 clinical trial, evaluating UCARTCS1 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
In addition to the UCARTCS1 trial, Cellectis is advancing other allogeneic CAR T-cell candidates. Patient screening is ongoing for UCART22 in the BALLI-01 Phase 1 trial for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The company also noted a new IND approval for UCART123 and site initiation for the AMELI-01 Phase 1 trial in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia.
Cellectis has appointed Francisco Esteva, M.D., Ph.D., as Vice President of Clinical Development. As of September 30, 2019, the company reported a cash position of $367 million. Cellectis is managing three partnered and three wholly-owned clinical development programs in hematology.
Research publications also highlighted. One study identified Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GMCSF) secreted by CAR T-cells as a factor in cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Another publication detailed the development of SWIFF-CAR, a construct designed with an on/off switch to potentially mitigate toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapies.