On May 2, 2022 Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: SANA), a company focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines, reported that five abstracts covering preclinical data from its hypoimmune and fusogen platforms were accepted for either oral or poster presentation at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) 25th Annual Meeting taking place May 16-19, 2022 in Washington, D.C (Press release, Sana Biotechnology, MAY 2, 2022, View Source [SID1234613415]).
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"We will have a strong presence at ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper), with presentations of data from multiple technology platforms, including two oral presentations on our hypoimmune platform and two posters on our fusogen platform," said Steve Harr, MD, Sana’s President and CEO. "We remain excited with the progress we are making with these platforms that are targeted to address some of the major challenges faced in the field of gene and cell therapy. Our goal is to file two INDs this year from two of these platforms, with the aim of translating our exciting scientific progress into beneficial therapeutics for patients."
The ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) abstracts are available to the public at View Source
Oral Presentations:
Title: Hypoimmune mouse primary pancreatic islet cells survive and functionally rescue allogeneic diabetic mice
Summary: Hypoimmune islet cells transplanted intramuscularly may be capable of persisting and functioning in diabetic patients without immune suppression
Abstract Number: 1244
Session: Cell Therapies for Hematological Disorders
Date/Time: Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. ET
Title: Generation of off-the-shelf allogeneic hypoimmune Tregs
Summary: A method to genetically engineer immune evasive "hypoimmune" regulatory T cells (Tregs) ex vivo that, in the assays tested, are immune evasive, functional, and protected from innate immune reactivity
Abstract Number: 1254
Session: Cell Therapy Product Engineering, Development or Manufacturing
Date/Time: Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Poster Presentations:
Title: Retargeted "fusosomes" for in vivo delivery to T cells
Summary: In vivo delivery of a CD19 CAR transgene payload with either CD8- or CD4-targeting vectors in Nalm-6 tumor bearing mouse models demonstrated robust production and persistence of CAR T cells, leading to tumor eradication
Abstract Number: 1081
Session: Cancer – Immunotherapy, Cancer Vaccines III
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Title: Fusosome-targeted gene transfer to human hepatocytes
Summary: Proof of principle data showing efficient delivery of a reporter transgene to human hepatocytes in vivo using a humanized liver mouse model
Abstract Number: 875
Session: RNA Virus Vectors
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET
Title: A novel VCN assay that detects lentiviral vector integrations while overcoming limitations caused by plasmid residuals
Summary: Data from a novel assay that relies on a unique amplicon and droplet digital PCR process that is specific to only reverse-transcribed self-inactivating viral vector nucleic acids
Abstract Number: M-305
Session: Pharmacology / Toxicology Studies or Assay Development
Date/Time: Monday, May 16, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET
About Hypoimmune Platform
Sana’s hypoimmune platform is designed to create cells ex vivo that can "hide" from the patient’s immune system to enable the transplant of allogeneic cells without the need for immunosuppression. We are applying the hypoimmune technology to both pluripotent stem cells, which can then be differentiated into multiple cell types, and to donor-derived allogeneic T cells, with the goal of making potent and persistent CAR T cells at scale. Preclinical data demonstrates across a variety of cell types that these transplanted allogeneic cells are able to evade both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system while retaining their activity. Our most advanced programs utilizing this platform include an allogeneic CAR T program targeting CD19+ cancers and stem-cell derived pancreatic cells for patients with type 1 diabetes.
About Fusogen Platform
Sana is developing re-targetable fusogens as a platform technology to enable the in vivo delivery of genetic payloads to specific cell types. Fusogens can bind to cell-surface proteins on the target cell type and, when combined with delivery vehicles to form fusosomes, deliver a genetic payload directly to the cell’s cytoplasm. We have shown in preclinical studies that we can engineer fusogens to specifically target diverse cell surface receptors that allow cell-specific delivery across multiple different cell types. Our most advanced programs utilizing this platform include in vivo CAR T cell fusosome product candidates targeting CD19+ cancer cells, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and acute lymphocytic leukemia.