Estrella Immunopharma Begins Second Cohort of STARLIGHT-1 Trial for EB103 in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas

EMERYVILLE, CA, USA I May 29, 2025 I Estrella Immunopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESLA) recently announced the successful dosing of the first patient in the second cohort of their STARLIGHT-1 trial. This trial, which is in its Phase I/II stages, aims to evaluate EB103, a CD19-redirected ARTEMIS® T-cell therapy designed for patients facing Advanced B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHL).

Estrella Immunopharma is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing innovative therapies targeting CD19 and CD22 to tackle cancer and autoimmune diseases. Their approach utilizes cutting-edge ARTEMIS® technology, with EB103 serving as their leading product candidate. The primary goal is to leverage the immune system's capabilities to improve outcomes for patients battling these severe health conditions.

The commencement of dosing in the second cohort of the STARLIGHT-1 trial marks significant progress in the clinical evaluation of EB103. Cheng Liu, the Chief Executive Officer of Estrella, emphasized the potential of EB103 to address limitations encountered with traditional CAR-T therapies. By reducing safety concerns and enhancing accessibility for high-risk patient groups, EB103 could provide an alternative treatment for individuals, especially those who are excluded from current CAR-T therapies, such as patients with HIV-associated lymphoma and central nervous system lymphoma.

The second cohort is set to receive a higher dose of EB103, following a comprehensive safety review from the first cohort. Encouragingly, the initial cohort reported no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) or severe adverse events (SAEs) related to the treatment. Liu expressed enthusiasm for the promising safety profile and the complete response observed in the first cohort, underscoring the potential of EB103 to transform treatment paradigms for difficult-to-treat lymphomas. The trial is a pivotal step towards completing Phase I of STARLIGHT-1, and Estrella is keen to evaluate the effects of higher doses while expediting the delivery of these treatments to patients in need.

EB103 stands out due to its novel ARTEMIS® T-cell design, licensed from Eureka Therapeutics, Inc., Estrella’s parent company. This distinctive design allows the T-cell to activate and regulate upon interaction with cancer targets through a mechanism closely resembling that of an endogenous T-cell receptor. Once administered, EB103 T-cells actively seek out CD19-positive cancer cells, bind to them, and eliminate them.

Estrella Immunopharma's mission revolves around harnessing the human immune system's evolutionary power to improve the lives of those afflicted by cancer and other diseases. EB103 is designed to target CD19, a protein prevalent on nearly all B-cell leukemias and lymphomas. In addition to EB103, Estrella is advancing EB104, another therapy utilizing ARTEMIS® technology, which targets both CD19 and CD22, proteins expressed on most B-cell malignancies.

The advancements in the STARLIGHT-1 trial underscore Estrella's commitment to pioneering treatments that could redefine cancer therapy. By focusing on innovative T-cell therapies, Estrella aims to provide hope and effective solutions for patients facing challenging prognoses.