BioCT is a bioscience cluster comprised of various businesses in the life sciences industry, ranging from therapeutics to healthcare technology and medical devices. Their mission includes education, fostering entrepreneurship, assisting in the development of bioscience firms, and collaborating to establish a sustainable, high-value bioscience and healthcare ecosystem that enhances the quality of life and maintains the strength of the Connecticut community.

Tags

Neoplasms

Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases

Immune System Diseases

Trispecific T-cell engager (TriTE)

Biological products

Recombinant protein

Disease domain score

A glimpse into the focused therapeutic areas

Technology Platform

Most used technologies in drug development

Targets

Most frequently developed targets

Disease Domain	Count

Neoplasms	5
Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases	2
Immune System Diseases	1

Top 5 Drug Type	Count

Trispecific T-cell engager (TriTE)	2
Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE)	1
Biological products	1
Recombinant protein	1
Antibody drug conjugate (ADC)	1

Top 5 Target	Count

CD20 x CD3	1
CD2 x CD3 x RAET1G x RAET1L x ULBP2	1
CD2 x CD20 x CD3	1
B7-H4(V-set domain-containing T-cell activation inhibitor 1)	1

Drugs associated with Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

EVOLVE-105

Target

CD20 x CD3

Mechanism

CD20 inhibitors [+1]

Active Org.

Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Originator Org.

Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Active Indication

Neoplasms

Inactive Indication-

Drug Highest PhasePreclinical

First Approval Ctry. / Loc.-

First Approval Date-

EVOLVE-106

Target

B7-H4

Mechanism

B7-H4 modulators [+3]

Active Org.

Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Originator Org.

Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Active Indication

Breast Cancer

Inactive Indication-

Drug Highest PhasePreclinical

First Approval Ctry. / Loc.-

First Approval Date-

EVOLVE-205

Target

CD2 x CD20 x CD3

Mechanism

CD2 agonists [+2]

Active Org.

Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Originator Org.

Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Active Indication

Autoimmune Diseases [+1]

Inactive Indication-

Drug Highest PhasePreclinical

First Approval Ctry. / Loc.-

First Approval Date-

100 Clinical Results associated with Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

0 Patents (Medical) associated with Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Literatures (Medical) associated with Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

04 Apr 2023·Cancer Research

Abstract 4094: Enhanced CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR-T cells through simultaneous inactivation of multiple T cell exhaustion pathways

Author: Karp, Hayden ; Myers, Jeremy ; Chin, Shu Shien ; Joinville, Kyla ; Fine, Jay ; Pels, Nana Adjoa ; Matis, Louis ; An, Xingyue ; Abulizi, Abudukadier ; Rodriguez, Julio ; Calderon, Lizet Aquino ; Sergeeva, Oksana ; Metzler, Kristen ; Fearnley, Amber

AbstractT cell exhaustion is a hallmark of tumor-infiltrating T cells and a major therapeutic challenge for immunotherapy which is not sufficiently understood. To identify T cell exhaustion promoting genes which may be targeted by new therapies, we combined highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockouts in primary human T cells with functional assessment of effector function under exhaustion-inducing chronic T cell activation conditions. We conducted an initial CRISPR/Cas9 T cell exhaustion screen focused on previously identified genes reported as enhancers of anti-tumor T cell response in mouse tumor models, published exhaustion genes, and genes associated with CD8 T cell activation. Based on these results, we constructed gene networks from these screen hits and performed a secondary CRISPR-Cas9-based screen. We found that eight genes, when efficiently knocked out, limited T cell exhaustion, as measured by increased proliferation under chronic activation, reduced expression of T cell exhaustion markers, and improved tumor cell killing in CD3-bispecific antibody-mediated tumor/T cell co-culture assays. Prioritized T cell exhaustion gene hits were also evaluated in assays assessing anti-CD19 CAR-T cell function. The CRISPR-mediated ablation of five T cell exhaustion gene hits resulted in significantly more effective CD19-positive human tumor cell killing, compared to the non-targeting control CAR-T cells. These five genes included a transcriptional regulator, a member of a CD28-independent costimulatory pathway, and a series of ligand/receptor pairs that have been previously associated with T cell exhaustion and dysfunction. Interestingly, knockdown of combinations of the top three T cell exhaustion gene hits resulted in CAR-T cells that were more effective in tumor killing than any of the single gene knockouts, suggesting a non-redundant role for each gene, most likely comprising independent pathways. Furthermore, enhanced tumor cell killing was observed when each T cell exhaustion gene hit was ablated in combination with PDCD1 (PD-1) in double knockout CAR-T cells, suggesting that the T cell exhaustion pathways we identified were complementary to the PD1-PDL1 immune checkpoint pathway in regulating effector T cell function. By using a multidimensional, functional CRISPR-Cas9-based T cell exhaustion screen, we have uncovered genes that are involved in T cell exhaustion. These gene knockouts can be universally applied individually or in combination to create CAR-T cells with more durable effector activity, with the potential to achieve superior patient outcomes in a variety of tumor indications.Citation Format: Oksana Sergeeva, Amber Fearnley, Shu Shien Chin, Xingyue An, Nana Adjoa Pels, Kristen Metzler, Kyla Joinville, Lizet Aquino Calderon, Abudukadier Abulizi, Hayden Karp, Julio Rodriguez, Louis Matis, Jay Fine, Jeremy Myers. Enhanced CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR-T cells through simultaneous inactivation of multiple T cell exhaustion pathways. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4094.

04 Apr 2023·Cancer Research

Abstract 2971: EVOLVETM: A novel T cell engager platform with integrated CD2 costimulation engineered for the treatment of immune suppressive tumors

Author: Abulizi, Abudukadier ; Klaskin, Danielle ; Jin, Guixian ; Matis, Louis ; Pels, Nana Adjoa ; Chin, Shu Shien ; An, Xingyue ; Karp, Hayden ; Sergeeva, Oksana A. ; Hackettt, Maria ; Rodriguez, Julio ; Dhindwal, Sonali ; Teran, Evelyn ; Sarkar, Mohosin ; Myers, Jeremy S. ; Tam, Eric M. ; Yuan, Changqing ; Lai, Zengzu ; Fine, Jay S. ; Ziegler, Jennifer ; Fearnley, Amber

AbstractBispecific antibodies which bind a tumor antigen and the CD3 heterodimer of the T cell receptor to form a synthetic immunological synapse represent a class of T cell engagers that has been clinically validated with the approvals of blinatumomab (Blinctyo®) and mosunetuzumab (Lunsumio®), targeting CD19 and CD20 respectively, for the treatment of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and follicular lymphoma. Despite being a potent class of therapeutics, not all patients respond to therapy. Recent studies into state of blinatumomab-treated T cells highlight exhaustion and the lack of co-stimulation as potential factors in resistance. In solid tumors, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment is also a major factor while cytokine release is a safety consideration for all bispecifics that bind CD3 with strong affinity. To address the challenges of CD3 bispecifics, we have developed the EVOLVE™ platform, a trispecific antibody that consists of tumor targeting and attenuated CD3 binding affinity coupled with a CD2 agonist. We show that CD2 costimulation is superior to other pathways in its ability to sustain T cell activation and expansion and cytokine production over repeated cycles of stimulation. By integrating a CD2 agonist with an attenuated CD3 affinity bispecific, we can restore cytolytic potential without concomitant increase in cytokine release as compared to a strong CD3 affinity bispecific. The EVOLVE platform is also capable of inducing tumor cell killing by in vitro exhausted T cells whereas the bispecific did not. In terms of safety, the EVOLVE platform does not induce peripheral T cell activation and cytokine release in PBMCs in the absence of target as compared to CD3 and CD28 agonist antibodies. The superiority of the EVOLVE platform compared to a bispecific was also demonstrated in vivo where we observed 8/8 complete responses in EVOLVE-treated animals whereas the strong CD3 affinity bispecific showed no difference compared to isotype control using a CORL105 lung cancer xenograft model. We believe these experiments recapitulate the continual clinical challenges of using strong CD3 affinity bispecifics while demonstrating the advantages of the EVOLVE platform. Finally, we demonstrate the modular nature of the EVOLVE platform across diverse tumor antigens including B7H4, PSMA, CD20, and a novel squamous tumor antigen ULBP2. Together our data highlight the broad applications of the EVOLVE platform to improve T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity and suggest its potential as an emerging, first-in-category immunotherapeutic strategy to address unmet medical needs in oncology.Citation Format: Mohosin Sarkar, Eric M. Tam, Guixian Jin, Shu Shien Chin, Abudukadier Abulizi, Oksana A. Sergeeva, Zengzu Lai, Evelyn Teran, Hayden Karp, Danielle Klaskin, Nana Adjoa Pels, Xingyue An, Jennifer Ziegler, Changqing Yuan, Maria Hackettt, Sonali Dhindwal, Amber Fearnley, Julio Rodriguez, Louis Matis, Jay S. Fine, Jeremy S. Myers. EVOLVETM: A novel T cell engager platform with integrated CD2 costimulation engineered for the treatment of immune suppressive tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2971.

01 Jul 2021·Cancer Research

Abstract 1743: IL12 heterodimeric Fc-fusions engineered for reduced potency exhibit strong anti-tumor activity and improved therapeutic index compared to native IL12 agents

Author: Ardila, Connie ; Chu, Seung Y. ; Rodriguez, Nicole ; Desjarlais, John R. ; Muchhal, Umesh S. ; Hassanzadeh-Kiabi, Nargess ; Liu, Ke ; Nguyen, Duc-Hanh ; Rashid, Rumana ; Barlow, Norm ; Hackett, Michael ; Leung, Irene ; Eivazi, Araz ; Bonzon, Christine ; Bykova, Katrina ; Varma, Rajat ; Bernett, Matthew J.

AbstractInterleukin-12 (IL12) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by activated antigen-presenting cells that induces differentiation of Th1 cells and increased proliferation and cytotoxicity of T and NK cells. Stimulation of these cells by IL12 leads to production of high levels of IFNγ. These immune-stimulating aspects of IL12 may help to establish an inflammatory tumor microenvironment critical for anti-tumor responses. Preclinical studies in mice revealed that native IL12 can dramatically shrink syngeneic tumors, however clinical studies in humans resulted in severe toxicity and a small therapeutic window, limiting response rates. Prior work at Xencor demonstrated that reduced-potency IL15/IL15Rα-Fc fusion proteins exhibited superior pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety in non-human primates through reduction of receptor-mediated clearance. Applying similar principles to IL12, we created IL12 heterodimeric Fc-fusions (IL12-Fc) with reduced potency to improve tolerability, slow receptor-mediated clearance, and extend half-life.IL12 is a heterodimeric protein consisting of two subunits, so we engineered IL12-Fc fusions by fusing the IL12p35 subunit to one side of a heterodimeric (and inactive) Fc domain, and the IL12p40 subunit to the other side. These Fc-fusions were tuned for optimal activity by introducing amino acid substitutions at putative receptor-interface positions and screening for reductions of in vitro potency. In vitro activity was assessed on human PBMCs by measuring signaling in a STAT4 phosphorylation assay and IFNγ production in a mixed-lymphocyte reaction (MLR). In vivo anti-tumor activity of human IL12-Fc were assessed in a human PBMC engrafted mouse MCF7 tumor model. Surrogate mouse IL12-Fc were evaluated in additional murine tumor models. Tolerability and pharmacodynamic activity were assessed in non-human primates.IL12-Fc were produced with good yield and purity. An IL12-Fc potency series was created, and variants had up to a 10,000-fold reduction in STAT4 signaling potency and IFNγ production in an MLR assay compared to native IL12-Fc. Anti-tumor activity was achieved with potency-reduced IL12-Fc as a single-agent and in combination with anti-PD1, with weaker variants maintaining anti-tumor activity at higher dose levels. Analysis of peripheral lymphocytes indicated increased numbers of T and NK cells as well as activation of CD8+ T cells. Increased expression of immune checkpoints including PD1 was also observed. Analysis of serum indicated up to 200-fold increases in IFNγ levels. Combined, these data indicate that potency-reduced IL12-Fc retain strong anti-tumor activity, while potentially overcoming safety and tolerability issues related to narrow therapeutic index associated with recombinant native IL12 or IL12-Fc agents.Citation Format: Matthew J. Bernett, Ke Liu, Christine Bonzon, Rumana Rashid, Nicole Rodriguez, Nargess Hassanzadeh-Kiabi, Connie Ardila, Katrina Bykova, Michael Hackett, Norm Barlow, Irene Leung, Duc-Hanh Nguyen, Araz Eivazi, Seung Y. Chu, Rajat Varma, Umesh S. Muchhal, John R. Desjarlais. IL12 heterodimeric Fc-fusions engineered for reduced potency exhibit strong anti-tumor activity and improved therapeutic index compared to native IL12 agents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1743.

News (Medical) associated with Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

08 Apr 2025

·www.globenewswire.com

EvolveImmune Therapeutics Announces Translational Research Collaboration to Evaluate Expression of Novel Tumor Target in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

BRANFORD, Conn. and NEW YORK, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EvolveImmune Therapeutics, an immuno-oncology company developing next-generation T cell engager biotherapeutics to overcome cancer cell resistance to current immunotherapies, today announced a translational research collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to investigate the expression of a novel tumor target, UL Binding Protein 2 (ULBP2) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The collaboration will leverage MSK’s world-leading capabilities in translational medicine with EvolveImmune’s expertise in T cell engager immunobiology, to accelerate the development of treatment options that address unmet medical needs in urothelial malignancies. EvolveImmune’s proprietary EVOLVE platform is designed to deliver potent, selective, and integrated T cell co-stimulation through the CD2 receptor to amplify and sustain the tumor killing capacity of T cells. This approach aims to bypass low tumor immunogenicity, conditionally activate adaptive immunity and reduce T cell dysfunction, to overcome therapeutic challenges in solid and hematologic tumors. The collaboration with MSK will generate unique observations to inform the clinical development of EVOLVE104, EvolveImmune’s first-in-class ULBP2-targeted T cell engager asset. “We are excited to collaborate with the experts at MSK, who bring unparalleled expertise in the treatment and understanding of bladder cancer to our research,” said Jay Fine, Ph.D., president of Research & Development at EvolveImmune Therapeutics. “We anticipate that insights from this collaboration will play an important role in shaping the clinical program for EVOLVE104, which remains on track to begin in 2025.” “We look forward to working with EvolveImmune to deepen our understanding of tumor-intrinsic factors that shape the immune landscape of urothelial cancer,” said David Aggen, MD, PhD, Genitourinary Medical Oncologist & Cellular Therapist at MSK. “With this collaboration, we aim to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities and molecular drivers of resistance to T cell-redirected immunotherapies, optimize patient selection and improve outcomes for urothelial and bladder cancer patients.” About EvolveImmune Therapeutics EvolveImmune Therapeutics, Inc. is an immuno-oncology company developing first-in-category, trispecific T cell engagers derived from its EVOLVE platform, which have been inspired by a generation of discoveries in T cell immunology. EVOLVE molecules leverage the power of integrated CD2 costimulation to overcome the therapeutic challenges of cancer cell resistance to current immunotherapies in a range of solid tumors and hematological cancers. First-in-human clinical trials with EVOLVE104 are anticipated to commence in 2025. For more information, please visit: www.evolveimmune.com. Contacts EvolveImmune Therapeutics Stephen Bloch, M.D. Chief Executive Officer 860-856-7104 info@evolveimmune.com Vida Strategic Partners (on behalf of EvolveImmune Therapeutics) Tim Brons (Media) 415-675-7402 tbrons@vidasp.com

Immunotherapy

12 Feb 2025

·endpts.com

AbbVie pens another T cell engager deal, this time with Xilio

AbbVie and Xilio Therapeutics are partnering to make “masked” T cell engagers, which they hope will be safer than currently available options. Xilio said Wednesday the collaboration would develop new immunotherapies, including the masked T cell engagers. The deal is for up to four programs, Xilio told Endpoints News via email, with two initial programs. The first is a masked T cell engager and the second is a “masked antibody-based immunotherapy.” AbbVie can start two more programs for masked T cell engagers in the first three years of the deal. Xilio’s masked T cell engagers are bi- or trispecific antibodies that are meant to be activated only when they reach the tumor cells. The goal is to spare cancer patients from some of the severe toxicities associated with these treatments such as cytokine release syndrome and serious infections. As part of the deal, AbbVie will pay Xilio $52 million upfront, which includes a $10 million equity investment. All in all, Xilio could get up to $2.1 billion in additional payments plus royalties. The upfront payment is more than Xilio’s market cap of $30 million on Tuesday before the deal was announced. Xilio’s stock $XLO soared about 95% on Wednesday morning, eclipsing $1.00, though it’s still down over 90% since its IPO in 2021. The deal with Xilio is the latest in a string of T cell engager collaborations that AbbVie has signed in recent months, further signaling the company’s continued interest in the cancer treatment modality. AbbVie and Genmab market the T cell engager Epkinly, which is used to treat certain lymphomas. In October, AbbVie penned a deal with EvolveImmune to develop T cell engagers for both solid tumors and blood cancers. And then, in January, the pharma signed a deal with Simcere Zaiming to develop a trispecific T cell engager for multiple myeloma. At the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference last month, AbbVie CEO Rob Michael said that T cell engagers are a focus as it makes deals. “As I think about our role in oncology, our BD efforts are around trispecific, multispecific T cell engagers, in situ CAR-T opportunities,” he said. Beyond the AbbVie deal, Xilio announced three preclinical masked T cell engager programs of its own, targeting PSMA, CLDN18.2 and STEAP1. Last year, the company penned a cancer deal with Gilead while also laying off 15 of its 73 staffers.

ImmunotherapyIPOAcquisition

11 Feb 2025

·www.globenewswire.com

EvolveImmune Appoints Kristen M. Hege, M.D. to Its Board of Directors

Dr. Hege joins the Board as EvolveImmune prepares to enter the clinic in mid-2025 with EVOLVE104, its lead trispecific T cell engager with integrated CD2 T cell costimulationBRANFORD, Conn., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EvolveImmune Therapeutics, an immunotherapy company developing first-in-category, multifunctional T Cell engager biotherapeutics to address unmet medical needs in a range of solid tumors and hematological cancers, today announced the appointment of Kristen Hege, M.D., to its Board of Directors. “Dr. Hege’s vast expertise and notable track record of successfully advancing novel cancer molecules from early stage through FDA approval will provide EvolveImmune with critical insights as we progress our portfolio assets through clinical development,” said Stephen Bloch, M.D., co-founder and CEO of EvolveImmune Therapeutics. “Her keen understanding of cancer immunotherapy development and the overall treatment landscape will be invaluable as we seek to fully exploit the potential of trispecific T cell engagers with integrated CD2 T cell costimulation to deliver clinically meaningful therapies to patients.” “While we have seen incredible results with cancer immunotherapy in recent years, it is critical to overcome the limitations of currently available immunotherapies in solid tumors,” noted Dr. Hege. “The unique platform that EvolveImmune Therapeutics has developed offers this opportunity, and I am excited to be able to participate in advancing the lead molecule, EVOLVE104 through clinical development.” Kristen M. Hege, M.D. Biography Kristen M. Hege, M.D. has nearly three decades of oncology translational and clinical leadership experience. As senior vice president, Early Clinical Development, Hematology, Oncology & Cell Therapy at Bristol Myers Squibb, Dr. Hege was responsible for advancing a pipeline of small molecules, biologics and cell therapies from first-in-human studies through clinical proof-of-concept. including leading BMS’s BCMA CAR T cell program (Abecma) from target identification through FDA approval. Prior to BMS, she held similar roles at Celgene and Cell Genesys. Dr. Hege spent more than two decades as part-time clinical faculty in the division of hematology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). In 2015, she was recognized by Fierce Biotech as one of the Top 12 Women in Biopharma, in 2019 by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association as a Luminary, in 2021 by San Francisco Business Times as one of the most influential women in Bay Area business, and in 2022 by UCSD with the Duane Roth Career Achievement Award for advances in science and medicine. Her career path and long history with CAR T cell development was featured as one of 25 physicians and scientists recognized as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Nature Medicine and by Forbes magazine in 2022 as one of 50 Women Over 50: Entrepreneurs in recognition of her leadership role in the development of Abecma. About EvolveImmune Therapeutics EvolveImmune Therapeutics, Inc. is an immuno-oncology company developing first-in-category, trispecific T cell engagers derived from its EVOLVE platform, which have been inspired by a generation of discoveries in T cell immunology. EVOLVE molecules leverage the power of integrated CD2 costimulation to overcome the therapeutic challenges of cancer cell resistance to current immunotherapies in a range of solid tumors and hematological cancers. First-in-human clinical trials with EVOLVE104 are anticipated to commence in 2025. Contacts Media: Eliza Schleifstein917-763-8106Eliza@schleifsteinpr.com Investors:Stephen Bloch, M.D., Chief Executive Officer860-856-7104info@evolveimmune.com

Executive ChangeImmunotherapyCell Therapy

100 Deals associated with Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

100 Translational Medicine associated with Evolveimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Corporation Tree

Boost your research with our corporation tree data.

view full example data

Pipeline

Pipeline Snapshot as of 13 May 2025

The statistics for drugs in the Pipeline is the current organization and its subsidiaries are counted as organizations,Early Phase 1 is incorporated into Phase 1, Phase 1/2 is incorporated into phase 2, and phase 2/3 is incorporated into phase 3

Discovery

Preclinical

Current Projects

Drug(Targets)	Indications	Global Highest Phase

EVOLVE-106 ( B7-H4 )	Breast Cancer More	Preclinical
EVOLVE-104 ( CD2 x CD3 x RAET1G x RAET1L x ULBP2 )	Squamous Cell Neoplasms More	Preclinical
EVOLVE-205 ( CD2 x CD20 x CD3 )	Autoimmune Diseases More	Preclinical
EVOLVE-105 ( CD20 x CD3 )	Neoplasms More	Preclinical
EVOLVE-101	Acute Myeloid Leukemia More	Discovery

Deal

Boost your decision using our deal data.

view full example data

Translational Medicine

Boost your research with our translational medicine data.

view full example data

Profit

Explore the financial positions of over 360K organizations with Synapse.

view full example data

Grant & Funding(NIH)

Access more than 2 million grant and funding information to elevate your research journey.

view full example data

Investment

Gain insights on the latest company investments from start-ups to established corporations.

view full example data

Financing

Unearth financing trends to validate and advance investment opportunities.

view full example data

Chat with Hiro

Get started for free today!

Accelerate Strategic R&D decision making with Synapse, PatSnap’s AI-powered Connected Innovation Intelligence Platform Built for Life Sciences Professionals.

Start your data trial now!

Synapse data is also accessible to external entities via APIs or data packages. Empower better decisions with the latest in pharmaceutical intelligence.

Bio

Bio Sequences Search & Analysis

Chemical

Chemical Structures Search & Analysis