Phase II Progress for Eureka's GPC3-Targeted T-Cell Therapy in Liver Cancer

Eureka Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech firm, has progressed its ARYA-3 clinical trial to Phase II, marking a significant step forward in the development of engineered T-cell therapies for solid tumors. The trial is assessing the efficacy of the company's ECT204 T-cell therapy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a liver cancer that is often positive for the Glypican 3 (GPC3) protein. This protein is a promising target for HCC treatments and is present in over 70% of HCC cells, with expression also noted in other cancers such as ovarian and lung.

The Phase I segment of the ARYA-3 trial has concluded successfully, paving the way for Phase II, where the therapy's safety and efficacy will be tested on a larger scale. This stage is critical in determining the potential therapeutic value of the treatment. Dr. Cheng Liu, President and CEO of Eureka Therapeutics, expressed enthusiasm for the trial's progress, highlighting the positive safety profile and early signs of efficacy observed in Phase I.

The ARYA-3 trial is designed as an open-label, dose-escalation study involving multiple centers. It utilizes a patient's own T cells, which are collected and genetically modified to target GPC3-expressing cancer cells using Eureka's proprietary anti-GPC3 ARTEMIS T cell receptors (AbTCR). These modified cells are then infused back into the patient to combat the cancer. The ARTEMIS platform is noted for its advantages over traditional chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapies, including improved tumor penetration, safety, and T cell longevity.

Eureka's clinical trial is currently enrolling participants at City of Hope and Kansas University Medical Center. The company's core technology revolves around the ARTEMIS® cell receptor platform and the E-ALPHA® antibody discovery platform, which are used to develop potentially safer and more effective T-cell therapies for a range of cancers. Eureka Therapeutics is a privately held company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus on advancing innovative cancer treatments.

The company's commitment to developing next-generation T-cell therapies for solid tumors is evident in its ongoing clinical programs, including ET140203 and ECT204, which are in Phase I/II trials in the United States for patients with advanced liver cancer.