On November 10, 2025 Verismo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage CAR T company developing a novel KIR-CAR platform technology, reported the presentation of new preclinical data from its lead clinical pipeline, SynKIR-110 to target mesothelin on solid tumors, at the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2025 Annual Meeting. The oral presentation showcased their latest preclinical data demonstrating SynKIR-110’s improved safety profile and enhanced anti-tumor activity compared to conventional CAR T therapies.
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The oral presentation, "A Novel NK-cell Based Split-Signaling Killer Immunoglobulin Receptor (KIR)-Based CAR T Targeting Mesothelin, SynKIR-110, Shows Increased Safety Profile and Increased Efficacy in vitro and in vivo" was delivered by Dr. Nora Yucel, Principal Scientist at Verismo Therapeutics.
Key Findings:
Enhanced Tumor-Specific Serial Killing: In vitro, SynKIR-110 showed sustained killing of MSLN-expressing tumor cells while minimizing off-target activation and cytokine release.
Reduced Exhaustion and Improved Functional Persistence: Unlike conventional 41BB-CD3ζ CAR T cells, SynKIR-110 exhibited reduced activation and exhaustion markers in vitro, suggesting less tonic signaling and functional exhaustion.
Improved Anti-Tumor Activity: In NSG mouse models of mesothelioma, SynKIR-110 induced deep and prolonged regression of implanted tumors and metastatic spread.
Less Off-tumor Activity: SynKIR-110 cells were selectively enriched in tumors and reduced in, normal tissues – contrasting with the off-tumor accumulation in lung and normal tissues observed with conventional 41BB-CD3ζ CAR T designs.
"Conventional CAR T therapies have faced significant safety and efficacy challenges in treating solid tumors," said Dr. Laura Johnson, CSO/COO of Verismo Therapeutics. "Our SynKIR platform presents a truly novel signaling platform approach designed to allow CAR T cells to rest and recover when not engaged with tumors, which in turn may reduce T cell exhaustion and improve safety and efficacy of tumor-specific killing."
SynKIR-110 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT05568680) in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and mesothelioma, and has received both Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of mesothelioma.
(Press release, Verismo Therapeutics, NOV 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234659744])