Verismo Therapeutics Activates CELESTIAL-301 Trial at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute

Verismo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage CAR-T company, has initiated its CELESTIAL-301 Phase 1 clinical trial at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute (CBCI). CBCI, known for its comprehensive blood and marrow transplant program, offers clinical trials through SCRI, a premier oncology research organization.

The CELESTIAL-301 trial aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary effectiveness of SynKIR™-310 in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (B-cell NHL). This includes various subtypes such as Diffuse Large B Cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Follicular Lymphoma (FL), Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), and Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL). The trial will enroll both patients who have previously undergone CAR T therapy and relapsed, as well as those who have never received CAR T treatments.

SynKIR™-310, developed using Verismo's innovative KIR-CAR platform and proprietary CD19 binder (DS191), targets a similar epitope of CD19 as existing CAR T therapies, but with enhancements designed to prolong anti-tumor T cell function and persistence. This could potentially address the high relapse rates observed in 40-50% of patients treated with current CAR T therapies, which is often due to short-lived T cell effector function. The trial seeks to provide new treatment options for patients with r/r DLBCL, who have limited options after relapsing from commercial CAR T therapies.

Verismo's KIR-CAR platform features a unique multi-chain CAR T cell therapy approach. It uses NK cell-derived KIR and DAP12 split signaling, resulting in a novel activation and co-stimulation separate from the traditional T cell pathways. This design aims to maintain prolonged T cell activity even in tough tumor environments, thereby enhancing the long-term function and persistence of KIR-CAR T cells. Preclinical models have shown that this approach can lead to tumor regression in both solid tumors and blood cancers that are resistant to traditional CAR T therapies.

Dr. Laura Johnson, CSO of Verismo Therapeutics, emphasized the company's commitment to tackling advanced cancers and addressing unmet medical needs. She highlighted the potential of SynKIR™-310 to significantly benefit patients with B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas, particularly those who have relapsed after prior CAR T cell therapies.

Verismo received IND clearance from the FDA in May 2024 to conduct this multicenter clinical trial for SynKIR™-310. This trial marks Verismo's second clinical pipeline, following SynKIR™-110, which targets aggressive mesothelin-expressing solid tumors.

Overall, Verismo Therapeutics continues to pioneer advancements in CAR-T technology with its KIR-CAR platform, showing promise in enhancing the efficacy and persistence of cancer treatments. The initiation of the CELESTIAL-301 trial represents a significant step towards providing new therapeutic options for patients with challenging and recurrent B-cell lymphomas.