Vittoria Biotherapeutics Publishes in Science Immunology

PHILADELPHIA, July 22, 2024 – Vittoria Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage cell therapy firm, has announced a significant publication by University of Pennsylvania researchers in the journal Science Immunology. The study highlights the pivotal role of CD5, an immunomodulatory protein, in engineered T-cell therapies. This research underpins Vittoria’s proprietary Senza5TM platform, which is designed to enhance CAR T-cell treatments by modulating CD5 to improve their efficacy.

Nicholas Siciliano, Ph.D., CEO of Vittoria Biotherapeutics, expressed excitement about the findings, noting their relevance to the clinical application of the Senza5TM platform. He emphasized the ongoing challenges in cell therapy for various cancers and chronic diseases and highlighted the importance of this publication as Vittoria begins its clinical trial for VIPER-101, a treatment for T-cell lymphoma.

The research was led by Marco Ruella, M.D., a physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania and the scientific founder of Vittoria Biotherapeutics. Dr. Ruella, senior author of the study, voiced his honor at the publication’s recognition of their work on CD5 in engineered cell therapies. He noted that the study’s findings demonstrate the University of Pennsylvania’s commitment to advancing cell therapy and cancer research. Vittoria was founded to accelerate the clinical translation of this technology, with VIPER-101 now being tested in a first-in-human clinical trial as a potential new therapy for T-cell lymphoma, a condition with significant unmet medical needs.

The preclinical study, titled “CD5 Deletion Enhances the Anti-Tumor Activity of Adoptive T Cell Therapies,” discusses how modulating the CD5 signaling pathway and using a proprietary five-day manufacturing process boosts CAR T-cell potency and durability. These advancements address current limitations in CAR T-cell treatments, such as CAR T-cell exhaustion, suboptimal efficacy, and manufacturing inefficiencies.

Ruchi Patel, Ph.D., the lead author of the study and a former graduate student in the Ruella lab, recently joined Vittoria’s scientific team. She expressed her excitement over the publication and her new role at Vittoria, emphasizing the potential impact of their work on the future of cell therapies and patient outcomes.

Vittoria's VIPER-101 clinical trial is now open for enrollment for treating T-cell lymphoma. Initial clinical data is expected in early 2025, which will provide valuable insights into the Senza5 platform, potentially leading to more effective cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Senza5TM is a cell therapy engineering and manufacturing platform that combines genetic engineering with a five-day manufacturing process. This approach maximizes the stemness, durability, and efficacy of cell therapies by disabling the CD5 signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the antitumor activity of CAR T cells. The expedited manufacturing process promotes greater in vivo expansion and durability, potentially leading to longer-lasting therapeutic responses. Senza5 aims to improve the efficacy of engineered T-cell therapies by leveraging the fundamental biology of T cells.

Vittoria Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies to overcome current limitations. The company’s Senza5TM platform, based on technology licensed from the University of Pennsylvania, aims to unlock the cytotoxic potential of engineered T cells and enhance their stemness, durability, and potency. Vittoria's pipeline includes applications in oncology and autoimmune diseases.