Kite Expands Collaboration with Arcellx with Over $285 Million Deal to Advance Next-Gen BCMA-Targeted CAR-T Therapies

▎Edited by the WuXi AppTec content team

Gilead Sciences' Kite and Arcellx Announce Expanded Collaboration Agreement; Kite Exercises Option to Obtain Development License for Arcellx's Investigational Therapy ACLX-001This treatment regimen combines the company’s designed “universal” T cells (ARC-T) with the SparX protein targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA).In addition, the collaboration between the two parties will also include the application of Arcellx's CART-ddBCMA in the field of lymphoma treatment.

Arcellx's technology platform utilizes innovative D-Domain (DD) technology, aimed at enhancing targeting specificity and binding affinity, replacing the scFv antigen recognition sequence with DD.DD is a compact, stable, fully synthetic binder with a hydrophobic core. Its potential advantages include: higher transduction efficiency, significant cell surface expression, and reduced sustained signaling.The D-Domain binder is designed to optimize the binding and killing effects of CAR-T cells on multiple myeloma cells.

▲Comparison of D-Domain Technology with Other Chimeric Antigen Receptors (Image Source: Arcellx, Inc. Official Website)

The company's ARC-SparX technology consists of SparX proteins and specially designed ARC-T cells. SparX protein is a fusion protein containing a DD that targets disease cell antigens and a unique protein domain recognizable by ARC-T. ARC-T cells express receptors on their surface that recognize the unique protein domain within SparX proteins.By injecting different SparX proteins into the patient's body, ARC-T cells can be guided to target various disease antigens and eliminate tumor cells. This design allows the activity of ARC-T cells to be regulated by SparX proteins, and injecting multiple SparX proteins targeting different antigens can address the issue of immune escape caused by antigen loss in tumor cells.

According to the agreement, Arcellx, Inc. will receive a $200 million equity investment. In addition, the company will receive an $85 million upfront payment. The agreement also includes potential milestone payments related to the progress of lymphoma treatment and the licensing of ARC-SparX, as well as other milestone payments.