Suzhou-based cell therapy developer Immunofoco has announced that it has received orphan drug designation (ODD) from the US Food and Drug Administration for its next-generation autologous CAR-T therapy, IMC008, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This follows the company’s first ODD status granted for gastric cancer in the country less than one month ago. Immunofoco plans to initiate investigator initiated trials (IITs) in Beijing, Jiangsu, and Nanchang, among other locations.
IMC008 and Its SNR Technology Platform
IMC008 is based on Immunofoco’s Synthetic Natural killer Receptor (SNR) technology platform, which targets specific antigens through dual recognition and functional enhancement mechanisms. This innovative approach expands the antigen recognition range of CAR-T cells through SNR receptors, effectively addressing the challenges posed by tumor antigen heterogeneity. The SNR signals also have a synergistic effect with CAR signals, further enhancing the proportion of memory T cells within CAR-T cells. This enhancement improves the expansion and tumor infiltration of CAR-T cells in animals and bolsters the ability to clear antigen heterogeneous tumor tissue.
Advancing CAR-T Therapy with SNR Technology
The receipt of ODD for IMC008 highlights the potential impact of Immunofoco’s SNR technology in advancing CAR-T therapy for cancer treatments. The company’s focus on overcoming tumor antigen heterogeneity and enhancing the efficacy of CAR-T cells positions it at the forefront of innovative cancer therapies.-Fineline Info & Tech
