Gothenburg, December 15, 2021 - Elicera Therapeutics AB (publ) (“Elicera”), a clinical stage cell and gene therapy company developing immuno-oncological treatments using enhanced CAR T-cells and oncolytic viruses, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Center for Cell & Gene Therapy regulating contract manufacturing of ELC-201, the company's next generation oncolytic virus armed with Elicera’s fully developed iTANK-platform for a multi-targeted attack on cancer.
This is the second collaboration between Elicera and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Center for Cell & Gene Therapy, a private health sciences center in Houston, Texas, for production of oncolytic viruses. BCM’s production of ELC-201 will be performed according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and is planned to be completed by mid 2023. The viral vectors will be used in Elicera’s upcoming clinical phase I/II-study with ELC-201.
– BCM has solid experience of viral vector production and have already supplied us with oncolytic viruses for our ongoing clinical phase I/II-study with ELC-100 in neuroendocrine tumors. Thus, they are well suited to also supply us with GMP material for our upcoming clinical phase I/II-study with ELC-201, said Jamal El-Mosleh, CEO of Elicera.
ELC-201 is a next generation oncolytic virus that causes direct cancer lysis and is armed with Elicera’s fully developed iTANK-platform to elicit a parallel and complementary immune response based on activation of the patients’ own killer T-cells against cancer. The T-cell response is further enhanced and sustained by incorporating an additional immune stimulating factor in ELC-201.
About ELC-201
ELC-201 is a next generation oncolytic virus with a combined three mode-of-actions in the treatment of cancer. The drug candidate has been genetically modified with the company’s proprietary immune enhancing platform technology, iTANK, in addition to 4-1BBL, both of which lead to strong activation of the patient’s endogenous CD8+ killer T-cells, leading to a broad parallel attack on cancer cells. ELC-201 is applicable for treatment of most cancers. A clinical phase I/II-study is planned to be initiated in second half of 2023.
About the iTANK platform
The iTANK (immunoTherapies Activated with NAP for efficient Killing) platform is the company's own fully developed technology platform for strengthening and arming CAR T-cells. The technology is used to incorporate a transgene into CAR T-cells encoding a neutrophil activating protein (NAP) from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Upon activation, NAP has been shown to be able to enhance the function of the CAR T-cell in addition to activating a parallel immune response via CD8 + killer T-cells. It is expected to be able to generate a broad attack against most targets on cancer cells. The iTANK platform is used to strengthen the company's own CAR T cells but can also be applied to other CAR T-cells under development.
For further information please contact:
Jamal El-Mosleh, CEO, Elicera Therapeutics AB
Phone: +46 (0) 703 31 90 51
jamal.elmosleh@elicera.com
About Elicera Therapeutics AB
Elicera Therapeutics AB is a clinical phase cell and gene therapy company that develops the next generation of immuno-oncology treatments. The work is based on high-profile long-standing research conducted by Professor Magnus Essand's research group at Uppsala University and has resulted in the development of four drug candidates, including two CAR T cells and two oncolytic viruses. In addition, Elicera has developed a technology platform called iTANK that can be used to optimize all CAR T cells in development and activate killer T cells against cancer. The Company’s share (ELIC) is traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. G&W Fondkommission has been appointed the Company's Certified Adviser. E-mail: ca@gwkapital.se, tel: +468-503 000 50.
For more information, please visit www.elicera.com