Carisma Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Study of CT-0508 in Combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Patients with HER2 Overexpressing Solid Tumors
Study is designed to evaluate the potential for a synergistic effect of CAR-M therapy in combination with KEYTRUDA®
PHILADELPHIA, June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Carisma Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: CARM) (“Carisma” or the “Company”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative immunotherapies, announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase I clinical trial that will test the safety and tolerability of the Company’s lead product candidate, CT-0508, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M) in combination with Merck’s anti-PD1 therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of HER2 overexpressing cancers.
Pre-clinical data presented at SITC in 2022 demonstrated that the mice that received both therapies had improved tumor control, overall survival, and tumor microenvironment (TME) activation as compared to either treatment alone, indicating synergy and the capacity for CAR-M to sensitize solid tumors to checkpoint blockade.
This first patient’s cells were manufactured at the Novartis Cell Therapy Site in Morris Plains, New Jersey, following the successful completion of the tech transfer of CT-0508 to Novartis earlier this year. This is Carisma’s first clinical product to be manufactured and administered from this collaboration.
“We are excited by the progress being made on our CT-0508 clinical program with the dosing of the first patient in the combination study with KEYTRUDA®,” said Michael Klichinsky, PharmD, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Carisma Therapeutics. “The CT-0508 monotherapy trial has demonstrated early clinical validation of the CAR-M mechanism of action, and we are eager to explore this sub-study to assess the potential synergistic effect of CAR-M therapy in combination with KEYTRUDA®. The initiation of clinical manufacturing at Novartis’ GMP cell therapy site is also a meaningful step forward in progressing our overarching manufacturing strategy, and demonstrates our desire to work alongside best-in-class companies.”
In January 2023, Carisma appointed nationally regarded cancer immunologist and oncologist, Dr. Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD, to the company’s Scientific Advisory Board. The Company expects that Dr. Sharma’s scientific knowledge in immunotherapy will provide valuable guidance in the studies of CT-0508 and KEYTRUDA®.
The clinical trial sub-study of CT-0508 in combination with KEYTRUDA® has been initiated at multiple site locations in the U.S. and will enroll patients with different types of recurrent or metastatic cancers with HER2 overexpressing solid tumors. To learn more about this, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04660929) or Carisma’s clinical trial website.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
About CT-0508
CT-0508 is a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M). It is being evaluated in a landmark Phase 1 multi-center clinical trial that focuses on patients with recurrent or metastatic HER2-overexpressing solid tumors whose cancers are not eligible for treatment with currently available HER2-targeted therapies or who do not respond to treatment. The trial is enrolling participants who have tumors of any anatomical origin, but with the commonality of overexpressing the HER2 receptor on the cell surface, which is the target for our CAR-M. The Phase 1 clinical trial is first-of-its-kind, marking the first time that genetically engineered macrophages are being studied in humans. The trial continues to enroll patients at seven clinical sites in the U.S., including (i) the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, (ii) the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, (iii) the City of Hope National Medical Center, (iv) the MD Anderson Cancer Center, (v) the Sarah Cannon Cancer Research Institute, (vi) Oregon Health & Science University and (vii) Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
About Carisma Therapeutics
Carisma Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on utilizing our proprietary macrophage and monocyte cell engineering platform to develop transformative immunotherapies to treat cancer and other serious diseases. We have created a comprehensive, differentiated proprietary cell therapy platform focused on engineered macrophages and monocytes, cells that play a crucial role in both the innate and adaptive immune response. The first applications of the platform, developed in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, are autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-macrophages for the treatment of solid tumors. Carisma is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, please visit www.carismatx.com.
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