Cimeio Therapeutics Unveils CD52 Shielding Data at ASGCT

Cimeio Therapeutics, a pioneering biotechnology company in epitope shielding, has unveiled significant findings regarding its CD52 program at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cell & Gene Therapy (ASGCT) in Baltimore. The study is encapsulated in an abstract titled “Molecular Shielding of CD52 Retains Expression, Anti-Phagocytic Don’t Eat Me Function and Protects from Alemtuzumab-Mediated Depletion.”

The research marks a groundbreaking stride in demonstrating that engineered T cells expressing CD52 can be effectively shielded from depletion mediated by Alemtuzumab, all while preserving the key attributes of this receptor. This pivotal discovery underscores the anti-phagocytic 'Don’t Eat Me' signal retained by the engineered CD52, setting the stage for a novel treatment strategy for patients struggling with T cell malignancies. Additionally, this approach shows promise for non-genotoxic conditioning and enhancing the durability of allogeneic CAR T cells.

According to Stefanie Urlinger, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Cimeio, the success of this study is attributed to exhaustive screening and thorough analyses of expression, glycan, and functional properties. The research team identified a base editable point mutation that shields T cells from Alemtuzumab, while ensuring that CD52 retains its surface expression, processing, and functionality. Dr. Urlinger expressed enthusiasm about the potential of the engineered CD52 receptor, envisioning it as a robust alternative to CD52 knock-out in allogeneic CAR T cells. This could offer resistance to lymphodepletion using Alemtuzumab and potentially enhance in vivo persistence.

Dr. Urlinger is scheduled to present these findings at 5:30 PM ET on Friday, May 10, as poster number 1,778.

Cimeio Therapeutics stands at the forefront of epitope shielding, focusing on developing Shielded-Cell & Immunotherapy Pairs™ (SCIP). These innovative immunotherapies hold transformative potential for treating hematologic diseases. Cimeio's approach involves creating advanced immunotherapies paired with modified variants of naturally occurring cell surface proteins in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These novel epitope-edited variants maintain their functional integrity but are resistant to depletion when targeted by the paired immunotherapy, which has high affinity for the wild-type version of these proteins.

The therapeutic potential of these innovations is vast, as Cimeio aims to develop curative treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies, autoimmune disorders, and genetic diseases. The company’s proprietary technology, Shielded Cell and Immunotherapy Pairs (SCIP), represents a significant advancement in immunotherapy, offering a new horizon of hope for patients battling various severe conditions.