BAFF CAR-T Cells (LMY-922)

Therapy with chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells has demonstrated activity against refractory hematologic malignancies, however not all tumors respond or remain in response to CD19 targeted CAR-T cells. We posit that CAR-T cells expressing BAFF (BAFF CAR-T cells) can become another strategy to treat refractory hematologic malignancies, even after relapse following cluster of differentiation antigen 19 (CD19) targeting CAR-T treatment.

LMY-922 is an allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy consisting of allogeneic cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) positive and cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) positive human T cells that are genetically engineered using the non-viral transposon system to express the BAFF-ligand CAR-T that target BAFF receptor family members to eliminate malignant B cells. BAFF receptor family includes B-cell activating factor receptor (BR3), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI). These receptors are present on refractory hematologic malignancies. The goal of LMY-922-002 phase 1 study is to find the recommended phase 2 dose of LMY-922 for treatment of patients with refractory hematologic malignancies.