A2 Bio to Present EVEREST-1 Trial Data at 2024 SITC Annual Meeting

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--A2 Biotherapeutics, Inc. (A2 Bio), a clinical-stage cell therapy firm, has announced the acceptance of six abstracts for presentation at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), to be held on November 8-10, 2024, in Houston. The company will provide updates on various clinical trials and advances in their Tmod™-based precision cell therapies designed to target tumor cells while sparing normal cells.

One key highlight will be an oral presentation on the BASECAMP-1 prescreening trial, aimed at improving the diversity of patients enrolled. This presentation will focus on the trial's success in identifying patients with HLA loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and providing crucial mutational, RNA sequencing, and microbiome data for precision logic-gated CAR T therapeutic trials. The oral presentation is scheduled for November 9, from 5:15-6:35 pm CDT, in the George R. Brown Convention Center's Grand Ballroom B, by Dr. Julian Molina from the Mayo Clinic.

The company will also present several posters that cover various aspects of their clinical trials. These include safety and biomarker data from the EVEREST-1 trial, progress in the EVEREST-2 clinical trial, and enhancements to the Tmod™ platform to increase potency while maintaining selectivity.

The EVEREST-1 trial, identified as NCT05736731, is a Phase 1/2 study evaluating A2B530, an autologous logic-gated cell therapy developed using A2 Bio's proprietary Tmod™ platform. This platform employs a dual-receptor system featuring an activator that targets tumor cells and a blocker that protects normal cells. A2B530 specifically targets carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) on tumor cells while utilizing HLA-A*02 as a blocker. The study is currently enrolling patients with non-small cell lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.

Meanwhile, the EVEREST-2 trial, identified as NCT06051695, is another Phase 1/2 study involving A2B694, another logic-gated cell therapy from the Tmod™ platform. A2B694 targets mesothelin (MSLN) on tumor cells and uses HLA-A*02 as a blocker. This trial is recruiting patients with non-small cell lung, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian, and mesothelioma cancers.

BASECAMP-1, identified as NCT04981119, is a prescreening study designed to identify suitable candidates for A2 Bio's clinical trials. This innovative approach seeks to optimize treatment outcomes by banking patients' immune cells at an early stage of cancer treatment. Advanced sequencing techniques identify patients who have lost HLA-A*02, the relevant biomarker for A2 Bio studies. Patients then undergo leukapheresis, a procedure to collect, process, and store T cells for future Tmod™ CAR T cell therapy. The study is open to participants with non-small cell lung, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian, and mesothelioma cancers.

The Tmod™ platform represents a significant breakthrough in precision-targeting cellular therapy. It uses two receptors—an activator and a blocker—to accurately differentiate between tumor and normal tissues. The activator targets antigens on tumor cells to initiate their destruction, while the blocker targets antigens on normal cells to protect them. This dual-receptor design ensures precise and effective T cell targeting, enhancing the safety and efficacy of cancer treatments.

A2 Biotherapeutics, Inc. is committed to addressing the significant unmet needs in cancer treatment through its innovative cell therapy solutions. The company’s ongoing research and development efforts aim to revolutionize cancer therapy by providing treatments that can selectively target tumor cells without harming normal tissues.