AstraZeneca and AbelZeta Jointly Co-Develop CAR-T Cancer Therapy in China
Pharma / 9 December 2023
In a strategic move, AbelZeta Pharma and AstraZeneca have announced a collaboration to co-develop a novel Glypican-3 (GPC3) armored CAR T therapy in China. This innovative therapy targets GPC3-positive tumor cells, prevalent in hepatocellular carcinoma. The partnership aims to provide a new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory GPC3-positive solid tumors.
AbelZeta Pharma has unveiled an agreement with AstraZeneca. Their partnership aims to co-develop C-CAR031, a Glypican 3 (GPC3) targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Designed to combat various solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), this therapy shows promise in early trials. It could potentially redefine treatment for advanced HCC and other solid tumors. C-CAR031, based on AstraZeneca's novel GPC3-targeting CART (AZD5851) and using their TGFβRII dominant negative armoring platform, is manufactured by AbelZeta in China.
Liver cancer, specifically HCC, a primary form of liver cancer, is not only a common cancer but also a leading cause of cancer deaths in China. With an alarming rate of 466 thousand new cases annually, accounting for half of the global cases, and 45% of the worldwide HCC deaths occurring in greater China, the urgency for innovative treatments has never been more pronounced.
Tony (Bizuo) Liu, Chairman and CEO of AbelZeta, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating: “We are pleased to collaborate with AstraZeneca in pursuing this novel CAR-T treatment for solid tumors. The treatment of advanced HCC has always been a great challenge, and I believe this CAR-T therapy has the potential to redefine therapeutic paradigms in HCC and other GPC3-expressing solid tumors”
A Transformative Collaboration
Under the agreement, AbelZeta will receive an initial payment from AstraZeneca for the co-development and commercialization of C-CAR031 within China. Additionally, AbelZeta stands to receive milestone payments and royalties for the global advancement of AZD5851, a product exclusively developed, manufactured, and commercialized by AstraZeneca outside of China.
Mark Cobbold, Vice President, Head Cell Therapy, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca said: “This agreement with AbelZeta accelerates the investigation of our innovative armoring CAR-T platform in solid tumors and advances our ambition to bring novel cell therapies to more people living with hard-to-treat cancers.”
At the American Association for Cancer Research in 2023, AbelZeta unveiled preliminary data from an investigator-initiated trial in China. This data showcased promising anti-tumour activity, robust pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic profiles for C-CAR031 in patients at advanced stages of HCC.
The Road Ahead
The collaboration between AbelZeta Pharma and AstraZeneca represents a significant leap forward in cancer care. As research and development in this field progress, the impact on patients diagnosed with HCC could be profound, potentially altering the prognosis and quality of life for numerous individuals worldwide.
More About C-CAR031 and HCC
The significance of C-CAR031 lies in its potential to revolutionize the treatment landscape for HCC and possibly other solid tumors expressing GPC3, a glypican 3 protein often found in cancer cells. This innovative approach represents a ray of hope for patients with advanced HCC, who currently face a grim prognosis. The current survival statistics for advanced-stage HCC are dire, with only a 7% five-year survival rate and a median survival of approximately 20 months.
With over 3 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist and writer, I am passionate about translating complex scientific information into clear and accessible content. My expertise lies in medical sciences, laboratory science and research, digital health, AI, and cybersecurity in healthcare.
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