Orna Therapeutics and Simnova Deepen Collaboration to Advance In Vivo CAR-T Therapies Targeting BCMA

Jan 16, 2025 15:15 CST Updated 15:15

Simnova

Innovative Cell Therapy Product Developer

Orna

Novel Full-Process Circular RNA (Orna) Therapy Developer

Recently, Orna Therapeutics, Inc.(hereinafter referred to as“Orna”) and Simnova Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as“Simnova”) announced a further deepening of the partnership, officiallyBCMA（BCell Maturation Antigen) listed as a designated biological target, jointly advancing in vivoCAR-TDevelopment and Application of Therapy. This collaboration aims to fully leverage the strengths of both parties in circularRNA（oRNA®) technology and leading position in the cell therapy field, developing innovative therapies to provide breakthrough treatment solutions for patients worldwide.

According to the agreement, Simnova will be responsible for the research, development, and commercialization of the BCMA-targeted panCar cell therapy in vivo within Greater China, while Orna will retain all rights to research, development, and commercialization in the rest of the world. Both parties will have the right to receive an upfront payment as well as milestone payments based on key stages such as clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialization within their respective authorized territories, along with a share of sales revenue after the product is approved and launched.

In January 2023, the two parties reached a cooperation agreement: Simnova will be responsible for the development and commercialization in the Greater China region of Orna's in vivo cell therapy products developed using its breakthrough circular mRNA technology (oRNA) for the field of oncology. This includes Orna’s most advanced project in its pipeline, the anti-CD19 in situ chimeric antigen receptor T-cell technology (isCAR), named “ORN-101”.

"We are excited to deepen our collaboration with Simnova to bring the in vivo BCMA panCAR therapy to patients with multiple myeloma," said Ansbert Gadicke, M.D., Chairman of Orna and Managing Partner of MPM Bioimpact. "Orna's panCAR approach holds the potential to introduce an entirely new class of in vivo CAR therapies, overcoming the limitations of current ex vivo cell therapies. The compelling preclinical and non-human primate data generated by Orna so far further reinforce our commitment to this field, and we look forward to advancing our program into the clinical stage."

Dr. Cao Zhuoxiao, CEO of Simnova, stated: "Both parties are committed to developing innovative therapies for cancer and immune diseases, and this collaboration opens up new opportunities for us in the BCMA target field."

About Orna

Orna Therapeutics Focuses on Designing and Developing a New Class of Fully Engineered Circular RNA (oRNA®) Therapies, Aiming to Unlock the Potential of RNA Medicine for Treating Various Diseases Throughout the Body. Orna’s Circular RNA Transcripts Offer Multiple Advantages Over Traditional mRNA Approaches, Including Simplified Production Processes, Optimized Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Formulations, and Superior Protein Expression Capabilities. Its Industry-Leading LNP-Based Delivery System and Comprehensive Editing Programs Enable Orna to Advance Innovative RNA Therapies with Significant Potential, Transforming Patient Care. For More Information, Visit www.ornatx.com and Follow Orna Therapeutics on X and LinkedIn.

About Simnova

Simnova (Shanghai Simnova Biotech Co., Ltd.) is dedicated to bringing innovative cell therapy products to cancer and autoimmune patients. Simnova has a rich R&D pipeline, with technical advantages in its self-developed universal off-the-shelf CAR-NK and BiTE CAR-T technology platforms, both of which are in clinical development stages.

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Disclaimer: The content is sourced from the official Simnova, this article aims for knowledge sharing, all content is for reference only and does not constitute any advice.