On April 13, 2023 Affini-T Therapeutics, Inc., a precision immunotherapy company unlocking the power of T cells against oncogenic driver mutations, reported that Loïc Vincent, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Christopher A. Klebanoff, M.D., physician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), who also serves as Scientific Co-founder and Advisor, Affini-T Therapeutics, are presenting data from the company’s T cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapy program targeting KRAS G12D mutations, at this year’s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2023 in Orlando (Press release, Affini-T Therapeutics, APR 13, 2023, View Source [SID1234630070]).

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"At Affini-T, we are targeting oncogenic drivers utilizing TCR-engineered T cells equipped with new synthetic biology elements capable of addressing some of the major obstacles in treating solid tumors, including T cell exhaustion and functional durability," said Loïc Vincent, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Affini-T Therapeutics. "Similar to our previously reported KRAS G12V data, our new preclinical data show a promising activity and tolerability profile in targeting KRAS G12D mutation that supports our mission to eradicate difficult to treat solid tumors with precision immunotherapies. Leveraging our platforms, TAILORTM, TUNETM and THRIVETM, we look forward to working with Dr. Klebanoff to progress our programs for patients with solid tumor cancers, including lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancer."

Oral presentation details are as follows:

Preclinical development of safe and effective T cell receptors specific for mutant KRAS G12D peptide

Abstract #1127, Session MS.CL07.01 – Immunotherapy
Session Date/Time: April 16, 3:52 pm – 4:07 pm ET
Presenting Author: Loïc Vincent, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Affini-T Therapeutics
Summary: T cell receptors (TCRs) directed against KRAS G12D mutant peptide/HLA-A*11:01 complex were isolated and prioritized based on specificity, functional avidity, and cytotoxicity, and were subsequently engineered into primary CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The in vitro and in vivo preclinical data demonstrate a promising activity and tolerability profile of the KRAS G12D mutant TCR-engineered CD4+ and CD8+ T cell therapy. The study supports the planned clinical development of this novel KRAS G12D mutant TCR-engineered CD4+ and CD8+ T cell therapy for treating patients with KRAS G12D mutant / HLA-A*11:01 cancers.
Oral presentation details are as follows:

Immunogenicity and therapeutic targeting of recurrently mutated ‘public’ neoantigens

Session SY18 – Dharma Master Jiantai Symposium in Targeted Therapy: Cellular Therapies for Cancer
Session Date/Time: April 18, 12:35 pm-12:55 pm ET
Presenting Author: Christopher A. Klebanoff, M.D., Associate Member and Attending Physician, Laboratory Head, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, and Member Investigator, Center for Cell Engineering at MSK; and Scientific Co-founder and Advisor, Affini-T Therapeutics
Summary: This study reports key data regarding expression of the mutant and wild type KRAS peptides by transformed and normal cells, and the discovery and characterization of a panel of patient-derived TCRs directed against the KRAS G12D mutant peptide/HLA-A*11:01 complex in vitro and in vivo.
"The findings we are presenting at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2023 are the result of outstanding scientific collaboration focused on using innovation to overcome bottlenecks that previously limited progress in the field," said Dr. Klebanoff. "I am hopeful that in future years we will see further advances resulting from our research lead to new mutation-specific TCR immunotherapies for patients with cancers that currently lack curative treatments.