Patrys commences CAR T cell research program

Patrys (ASX:PAB) has commenced a collaboration to genetically engineer T cells through the introduction of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).

In an update to the company’s clinical programs, Patrys said the joint program has the potential to fulfil the need for engineered T cells against novel anticancer targets.

In the project, parts of Patrys’s IgM antibodies will be utilised to create genetically engineered T cells which will attack cancer cells expressing the novel target.

Patrys has meanwhile commenced a new collaboration with Monash Institute investigating four early-stage cancer IgM antibodies and their targets. If successful, Patrys expects to be able to progress the antibodies into preclinical development.

The company also has an ongoing collaboration with Macquarie University to determine whether Macquarie nanocrystal technology can be combined with Patrys’s IgM antibody PAT-SM6 to create a sensitive diagnostics tool for detecting multiple myeloma in the blood.

Patrys said the research group is currently developing labelling techniques that can be used to attach the nanoparticles to PAT-SM6, and that developing PAT-SM6 as both a therapeutic and diagnostic tool for multiple myeloma will increase the attractiveness of the product to potential licensees.

Yet another collaboration involves working with the CSIRO to explore manufacturing IgM antibodies using an alternative cell system called CHO. To date, this team has been successful in expressing the pentameric form of the PAT-SM6 antibody in CHO cells.

Finally, Patrys said its preclinical research into the anti-myeloma activity of PAT-SM6 in combination with marketed drugs carfilzomib, bortezomib and lenalidomide has been progressing well.

Early results show that combining PAT-SM6 with these drugs can result in a higher proportion of killed multiple myeloma cells than if the drugs are used as single agents.

The research also suggests that PAT-SM6 has the ability to convert the multiple myeloma cells from being resistant to bortezomib and carfilzomib to being sensitive.

“We are making significant progress with a number of our preclinical programs and are beginning to see some exciting, and potentially very important, results,” Patrys CEO Dr Marie Roskow commented.

Patrys (ASX:PAB) shares were trading 7.14% higher at $0.03 as of around 2 pm on Thursday.