Suzhou-based cell therapy developer Immunofoco has announced that it has received orphan drug designation (ODD) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its next-generation autologous CAR-T therapy, IMC008, which is being developed to treat gastric cancer.
IMC008: A Next-Generation CAR-T Therapy Utilizing SNR Technology
IMC008 is grounded in Immunofoco’s Synthetic Natural killer Receptor (SNR) technology platform. This innovative platform targets specific antigens through dual recognition and functional enhancement mechanisms, addressing the challenges posed by tumor antigen heterogeneity. The SNR receptors expand the antigen recognition range of CAR-T cells, effectively tackling the diversity of tumor antigens.
Enhancing CAR-T Cell Efficacy with SNR Signals
The SNR signals also have a synergistic effect with CAR signals, which further enhances the proportion of memory T cells within the CAR-T cells. This leads to an increase in the expansion and tumor infiltration of CAR-T cells in animal models, as well as an enhanced ability to clear antigen heterogeneous tumor tissue. The designation of orphan drug status for IMC008 underscores the potential impact of this therapy in improving treatment options for patients with gastric cancer.-Fineline Info & Tech
