SOTIO acquired rights to BOXR CAR-T platform and products from Unum Therapeutics
31 Aug 2020
BOXR1030 (GPC3-targeted CAR-T cells) – SOTIO/ UNUM Therapeutics
SOTIO acquired the rights to Unum Therapeutics’ BOXR cell therapy platform and its lead programs (BOXR1030) for a total of $11.5 million, including $8.1 million upfront payment and potential $3.4 million in milestones
The company will utilize Unum’s R&D data, a portion of its laboratory and manufacturing facility to establish a T cell therapy R&D Center of excellence in Cambridge, MA
Lead program expected to initiate first clinical studies in 2021
SOTIO acquires BOXR CAR-T platform and products to strengthen portfolio
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CI Scientists Remarks:
Bolt-On Chimeric Receptor (BOXR) technology is designed to improve the functionality of engineered T cells by incorporating a “bolt-on” transgene to overcome resistance of the solid tumor microenvironment (TME) to T cell attack
In preclinical studies, BOXR1030 was resistant to suppressive tumor microenvironment-like conditions, showing improved T cell proliferation under both hypoxic and low glucose conditions and superior efficacy in comparison to classical GPC3-targeted CAR-T cells
IND (late 2020) studies are underway for BOXR1030 is expected to initiate first clinical studies in hepatocellular carcinoma and other solid tumors by 2021
BOXR platform is complimentary to Sotio’s diverse portfolio: IL-15 superagonist program (targeting cancer), Cell therapy program DCVAC (Prostate, ovarian, lung cancer), Antibody drug conjugates (targeting cancer)
Possible synergies of a CAR-T with their clinical stage SO-C101 (IL-15) program