On April 8, 2022 AbClon reported that the company has partnered with the National Cancer Center (NCC) to develop a CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T) cell therapy for solid cancer and target Claudin (CLDN)-18.2 antigen (Press release, AbClon, APR 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234638630]).

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According to the company, the recent breakthrough success of CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancer has accelerated CAR-T research to treat intractable solid cancer. However, due to various difficulties, such as the micro-tumor environment of solid cancer, there have been no positive clinical results shown in the blood cancer field.

The two sides agreed to fully mobilize each other’s proprietary platform technology to develop a CAR-T cell therapy to treat intractable solid cancer.

The NCC research team plans to develop a platform technology that activates the killing ability of T cells only against cancer cells and a source technology for gene therapy using CAR-T cells that target antigens that exist only in cancer cells.

Abclon plans to develop a CAR-T cell therapy targeting the specific antigen Claudin-18.2 based on NCC’s technology.

The two parties plan to apply the developed method in treating solid metastatic cancer that is refractory to existing treatment.

AbClon stressed that Professor Jung Jun-ho at Seoul National University College of Medicine, an authority in antibody-drug and CAR-T cell therapy research, will participate in developing antibodies among the constituents of CAR that will act on the Claudin-18.2 antigen.

"Since Claudin-18.2 is overexpressed in gastric and pancreatic cancers, we have judged the antigen as a potential target to solve the unmet needs of patients with intractable solid cancer," Professor Jung said.

An AbClon official said, "In addition to the blood cancer treatment currently in clinical trials, the company plans to provide various treatment opportunities to patients by successfully developing a solid cancer CAR-T cell treatment."

The joint research project with NCC will serve as an opportunity for the company to leap forward as a global leader in CAR-T cell therapy, he added.