Antion Biosciences develops safer off-the-shelf CAR T-cells for autoimmune diseases

Antion Biosciences, a cell and gene therapy company based in Geneva, is making strides in the development of next-generation anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells for treating B-cell driven autoimmune diseases. These diseases impact up to 10% of the global population, with the cost of care surpassing $120 billion annually. Recent research shows that CAR T-cell therapy is highly effective for severe autoimmune diseases. Prof. Dr. Georg Schett, recognized by Time Magazine as one of the most influential people in health, emphasized that many patients not only achieve drug-free remission but may be cured of their autoimmune conditions. This promising outcome has garnered interest from major entities, including Novartis, to explore this therapeutic avenue.

Dr. Marco Alessandrini, CEO of Antion, sees this as a transformative shift in autoimmune disease treatment, providing a unique chance to develop life-changing therapies for numerous patients. He stated, "Our approach is to foresee future needs and create a product that will endure over time."

Antion's innovative "miCAR19" is a multiplex engineered therapeutic designed to overcome the limitations of current products under development. A primary focus is on patient safety. Traditional CAR T-cell products for oncology require chemotherapeutic pre-conditioning, which is generally unsuitable and often unacceptable for autoimmune disease patients. Antion's product is gene-engineered to bypass the need for such pre-conditioning and to reduce hyperinflammatory risks. As an allogenic product, it allows for off-the-shelf availability and scalable manufacturing to meet global demand for this potentially curative therapy.

Dr. Alessandrini remarked, "This marks a new chapter for Antion. Our technology platform has proven its value both in our work and in the work of our partners. Our top priority is to advance this product to clinical trials as swiftly as possible."

Antion Biosciences is a Swiss biotechnology company dedicated to developing cell and gene therapy products to treat diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Their proprietary technology platform provides a modular and adjustable approach to the multiplex engineering of therapeutic cells. By focusing on off-the-shelf and immune-privileged products, Antion aims to expand access to transformative therapies for all patients.