National Cancer Center and University of Pennsylvania Patent Licensed to ARC Therapies, Inc.

The National Cancer Center in Tokyo, Japan, and The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA, have jointly licensed a chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) targeting the chemokine receptor CCR4 to ARC Therapies Inc., a startup founded by the National Cancer Center. This partnership signals the initiation of ARC Therapies' research and development program focused on cell therapies aimed at treating T-cell cancers, including adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), which is notably prevalent in Japan. Additionally, there is an exploration into the potential applications of CCR4 CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors.

The National Cancer Center, established in 1962, is a premier cancer research institution in Japan. Meanwhile, the University of Pennsylvania has been a pioneer in CAR-T cell therapy research, co-developing the first FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapy in 2017. ARC Therapies Inc., a startup certified by the National Cancer Center in Japan and established in May 2022, is dedicated to the advancement of cell therapies utilizing innovative research.

Hiroyuki Mano, Director of the National Cancer Center Research Institute, expressed optimism about this collaboration. He emphasized the institution's ongoing efforts to understand the mechanisms of cancer development and to create diagnostic and treatment methods. He noted that the licensing of CCR4 CAR-T cell therapy to ARC Therapies Inc. could hasten the practical application of new T-cell therapies developed by the National Cancer Center.

Rami Suzuki, CEO of ARC Therapies Inc., reiterated the company's commitment to advancing CCR4 CAR-T cell therapy. Suzuki highlighted the therapy's potential for long-lasting efficacy and expressed hope that their research efforts would yield valuable treatment options for cancer patients.

CCR4, a chemokine receptor found primarily on lymphocytes that migrate to the skin, is a critical target in this therapy. It is present on the surface of cells in ATLL, Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL), and Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL). The anti-CCR4 antibody "mogamulizumab" is already approved for treating these cancers. Moreover, CCR4 is expressed on regulatory T cells surrounding tumors, indicating its potential in treating solid cancers through the removal of these regulatory T cells.

CCR4 CAR-T cell therapy involves the creation of recombinant T cells by introducing a gene that combines an antibody binding specifically to CCR4 with an intracellular signal transduction domain into leukocytes from the patient. Once injected back into the patient, these cells are expected to migrate to tumor tissues expressing CCR4, become activated, and attack the cancer cells.

ATLL, a type of T-cell lymphoma, develops in patients infected with Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1). This infection is particularly observed in certain regions of Japan, making ATLL a characteristic tumor of the country. The Japanese government is treating this issue with significant focus. While anti-CCR4 antibody treatments have shown success for blood-type ATLL, recurrence remains a challenge, and currently, there is no effective treatment for lymphoma-type ATLL.

This collaboration between the National Cancer Center, the University of Pennsylvania, and ARC Therapies Inc. represents a promising step forward in the development of novel cancer therapies, potentially benefiting patients with various forms of T-cell lymphomas and perhaps other cancers in the future.