Gothenburg, January 18, 2021 - Elicera Therapeutics AB (publ) (“Elicera”), a clinical stage cell and gene therapy company that develops next generation immuno-oncological treatments based on enhanced oncolytic viruses and CAR T-cells, today announced that Vinnova has granted the company and its project partners 5 million SEK in grants to develop an automated process for CAR T-cell manufacturing.
Elicera Therapeutics and its collaborators at Karolinska Institute and their production unit, Vecura at Karolinska Sjukhuset, Uppsala University and Akademiska Sjukhuset in Uppsala are preparing for a clinical phase I/II-study using Elicera’s armoured CAR T-cell therapy, ELC-301, for treatment of B-cell malignancies. Vinnova has granted the project 5 million SEK to develop an automated CAR T-cell manufacturing process to be implemented as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). The manufacturing process is expected to simplify the current labour consuming manufacturing process, de-centralize the manufacturing sites and thus make CAR T-cell therapies more accessible to cancer patients.
- CAR T-cell therapies are very complex to manufacture. Our aim is to establish an automated production process to reduce manufacturing time, improve robustness and decrease production failure, says Jamal El-Mosleh, CEO of Elicera. If we are successful, we expect to be able to add yet another important asset to our portfolio of intellectual property by filing for a patent application to protect the automated manufacturing process. We will be able to use this process not only for ELC-301 but also for our CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumors, ELC-401. All in all, it will further strengthen our position in the field of cell and gene therapy.
About ELC-301
ELC-301 a CD20-directed CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. ELC-301 has been armed with the company's iTANK-platform for activation of endogenous killer T-cells against the whole set of relevant target antigens on tumor cells, thus generating a powerful parallel immune response against cancer. A clinical phase I/II study is expected to be initiated during the second half of 2022 in collaboration with Uppsala University.
About ELC-401
ELC-401 is an IL13Ra2-directed CAR T-cell therapy in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. Initially, the company intends to use ELC-401 in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, but the company sees potential for the treatment of additional solid tumors such as colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. ELC-401 has been armed with the company's iTANK platform for activating endogenous killer T-cells against the entire set of relevant targets on tumor cells, thus generating a powerful parallel immune response against cancer. A clinical phase I/II study is expected to be initiated in second half of 2023.
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