Selecting Cell Therapy Targets in Cancer

“While there are other companies that are actively pursuing natural killer cell-based therapies, and there are other companies that are actively pursuing engaging monoclonal antibodies for T cells, or for NK cells, we're the only company that has brought together both of those strategies. And we'll be looking to see how we mix and match and combine the engager with the cells."

Cytovia Therapeutics is focused on developing therapies for cancers, both in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, with the use of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells have grown in popularity for investigational use in oncologic indications in recent years.

Cytovia is focused on targeting GPC3 solid tumors and CD38 hematologic malignancies, but they are also exploring other targets such as EGFR. They are developing CAR-modified NK cells and multi-specific NK engagers as their 2 main classes of therapies. The company is planning to file investigational new drug applications for these programs in the first quarter of 2022 to the second half of 2022.

GeneTherapyLive spoke with Daniel Teper, PharmD, MBA, cofounder and chief executive officer, and Stanley R. Frankel, MD, chief medical officer, Cytovia Therapeutics, to learn more about selecting a therapeutic target, such as the GPC3 and CD38 targets, and the importance of building the right cell therapy scaffold. They also discussed future research and upcoming plans the company has, as well as partnerships the company is involved with.