Allogene Therapeutics Announces Oral Presentation of Pre-Clinical Data Highlighting Improved Anti-Tumor Activity of Donor-Derived Allogeneic CAR T Cells at American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting

• Cells Derived from Healthy, Younger Donors were More Abundant with Greater Fitness and Cancer Killing Potential Than Cells Derived from Patients with Cancer
• Findings Underscore Potential of Allogeneic CAR T Products to Improve Patient Outcomes

Excerpt from the Press Release:

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALLO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of allogeneic CAR T (AlloCAR T™) products for cancer, today will present preclinical findings evaluating the characteristics and function of donor-derived allogeneic CAR T cells. Data showed that cells from a diverse set of younger donors had improved characteristics and better in vitro anti-tumor activity compared to cells from older donors. The study also showed that cells from patients with certain cancers generally performed suboptimally based on functional assays and often could not be used to generate viable CAR T therapies. The findings will be presented during an oral session at the 2022 American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Annual Meeting (ASGCT) at 10:45am ET.

“These results further support the benefits and characteristics of allogeneic CAR T cells produced from healthy donors and the potential for AlloCAR Ts to improve patient outcomes,” said Rafael G. Amado, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at Allogene. “Cells derived from healthy, younger donors were more abundant, with greater fitness and cancer killing potential and have the potential to eliminate the risk of manufacturing failures seen with autologous CAR T therapies.”

The study evaluated the characteristics and performance of CAR T cells derived from healthy donors aged 19 to 62, comparing the healthy donor cells to those derived from patients with cancer. Based on the analysis, CAR T cells produced from younger donors had stronger T cell phenotypes and better in vitro anti-tumor activity cytotoxicity compared to older donors. The expression of specific exhaustion and activation markers was also correlated with increased donor age and in vitro anti-tumor activity decreased with donor age. Regardless of age, the CAR T cells derived from healthy donors performed better and had a lower manufacturing failure rate compared to those derived from patients with cancer.

Creating allogeneic CAR T cells from healthy donors reduces product variability; reduces the risk of manufacturing failures; and enables treatment within days, eliminating the need for bridging chemotherapy. This study provides additional evidence that younger, healthy donors may improve product characteristics and potency compared to older donors.

Click the button below to read the entire Press Release:

Continue Reading The Press Release