Singapore General Hospital and Elpis Biopharmaceuticals Collaborate on Cell Therapy Development

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has entered into a research collaboration agreement with Elpis Biopharmaceuticals, a US-based cell therapy company, to develop next-generation allogeneic CAR technologies. The collaboration will focus on advancing armored and bispecific CAR-γδT cell therapies targeting acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma.

Elpis has transferred its proprietary technology to SGH, which will utilize its unique γδT cell platform and clinical expertise to advance the development of these assets. The goal is to progress the therapies into investigator-initiated clinical trials. Should the data prove favorable, both parties have indicated a mutual intention to explore forming a joint venture for further development and commercialization.

"CAR-γδT cells represent the cutting edge of cancer therapy," stated Assistant Professor Alice Cheung from SGH's Department of Haematology. She leads the research and highlighted the technology's potential to engage the entire immune system.

The collaboration aims to develop potent and durable cell therapies for AML and multiple myeloma. Assistant Professor Chen Yunxin at SGH mentioned that the objective is to enhance anti-tumor activity and improve patient clinical outcomes through robust immune modulation.

Elpis Biopharmaceuticals has developed a suite of technologies designed to overcome key challenges in cancer treatment, including tumor microenvironment immunosuppression and antigen heterogeneity. The company believes its approaches can offer safer, more effective, and potentially more cost-efficient therapies compared to current autologous CAR-T cell treatments.