On May 29, 2025 RBL LLC, a pioneering biotech venture creation studio dedicated to rapidly building companies based on breakthrough medical technologies from Rice University, reported the launch of Sentinel BioTherapeutics at the 2025 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Sentinel BioTherapeutics, MAY 29, 2025, View Source [SID1234653499]). Sentinel’s launch marks RBL’s first company spin-out since its formation in October 2024 and positions Sentinel to begin preparations ahead of the next phase of clinical development for its lead cancer immunotherapy program.
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Developed in the laboratory of bioengineering expert, Omid Veiseh Ph.D., at Rice, Sentinel’s platform enables sustained and local delivery of the cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) to activate the immune system and enhance the potency and effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors against solid tumors. The allogeneic encapsulated cell-based system enables constitutive expression of human IL-2. This approach can offer a new paradigm for treating cancers that typically respond poorly to checkpoint inhibitors, such as ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
"We believe this is a powerful, new approach that can increase the sensitivity of solid tumors to immunotherapy" said Rima Chakrabarti, M.D., the company’s Chief Executive Officer and managing partner at RBL. "Data from a Phase 1 study show the significant potential of our IL-2-producing cell-based platform to specifically stimulate immune checkpoint expression, supporting the rationale for using our agent in combination with immunotherapy. With the backing of RBL, we are moving forward with GMP manufacturing and clinical trial preparation plans in high unmet need solid tumor indications. We are proud to be part of the growing Houston biotech ecosystem that is supported by the Rice Biotech Launch Pad and RBL."
Sentinel’s Phase 1 data will be presented in a poster at the 2025 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The presentation will highlight clinical biomarker data showing the ability of the company’s IL-2 immune priming therapy to induce dose-dependent increases in CTLA-4 expression on both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, supporting its use as a priming agent for effective checkpoint inhibition. Full details of the abstract (#5562) can be viewed here.
Session Title: Gynecologic Cancer
Poster Title: Phase I Study of Sustained and Local Delivery of Intraperitoneal IL-2 using Encapsulated Cells in Patients with Platinum-Resistant High-Grade Serous Carcinoma
Date & Time: June 1, 2025, 9 – 12 p.m. CT
Location: Poster Bd #460
"The launch of Sentinel represents a major milestone in RBL’s mission to support companies that are transforming bold scientific ideas into therapeutic products with the potential for rapid patient impact," said Paul Wotton, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of RBL and Chairman of Sentinel. "Sentinel’s cytokine factory platform is the breakthrough technology that we believe has the potential to define the next era of cancer treatment."