Cartesian Therapeutics Begins First Dosing in Phase 1 Trial of mRNA CAR-T Therapy Descartes-15

On September 3, 2024, Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAC), a clinical-stage biotech firm focused on mRNA cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, announced the initiation of its first-in-human Phase 1 trial for Descartes-15. This therapy represents the company's latest advancement in autologous anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) mRNA-engineered chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (mRNA CAR-T).

Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., President and CEO of Cartesian, stated that the progress of Descartes-15 into clinical trials is a significant milestone in the company's mission to deliver innovative mRNA cell therapies to patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. Designed leveraging Cartesian's proprietary mRNA platform, Descartes-15 aims to be a potent next-generation cell therapy that can be administered in an outpatient setting without the need for preconditioning chemotherapy. Brunn expressed optimism about the continued development of this program for autoimmune conditions with high unmet medical needs.

Descartes-15 is engineered to exhibit predictable and controllable pharmacokinetics, incorporating technological advancements that bolster CAR stability even when faced with target-driven CAR suppression. It shares a design philosophy with Descartes-08, the company's lead product candidate, and also does not require preconditioning chemotherapy or integrating vectors. Notably, Descartes-15 has demonstrated a ten-fold increase in CAR expression and selective target-specific killing in preclinical studies compared to Descartes-08.

The Phase 1 dose escalation trial, identified by the code NCT06304636, will evaluate the safety and tolerability of administering Descartes-15 as an outpatient treatment for patients with multiple myeloma. Following this initial trial, the company plans to further explore the efficacy of Descartes-15 in various autoimmune conditions.

Cartesian Therapeutics is at the forefront of developing mRNA cell therapies aimed at treating autoimmune diseases. Their leading asset, Descartes-08, is a pioneering mRNA CAR-T currently in Phase 2b trials for generalized myasthenia gravis and in Phase 2 trials for systemic lupus erythematosus. Additionally, a Phase 2 basket trial is planned to assess Descartes-08 across other autoimmune indications. Alongside these developments, the company's clinical-stage pipeline also features Descartes-15, underscoring Cartesian's commitment to advancing mRNA cell therapy.