Nobel Prize-Winning iPSC Technology Powers Next-Gen Off-the-Shelf CAR-T Therapy Developed by Kyoto University and Takeda

Major Industry News: Takeda and Kyoto University Announce that an Innovative CAR-T Therapy Has Transitioned from Academia to Industry, with Clinical Development Handled by Takeda. Notably, this CAR-T therapy is developed using the Nobel Prize-winning “induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology,” holding the promise of transforming the field of cell therapy.

CAR-T therapy is a novel type of cellular immunotherapy that has emerged in recent years. Its principle involves isolating immune T cells from the patient, genetically modifying and expanding them ex vivo, and then reinfusing them into the patient to target and kill cancer cells. However, because this manufacturing process requires “personalized customization,” both time and financial costs remain prohibitively high. To reduce patients’ waiting times and alleviate their treatment burden, many companies in the industry are developing “off-the-shelf” CAR-T therapies, which eliminate cumbersome production processes and can be used on demand.

Among various strategies, scientists from Kyoto University proposed the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Kyoto University is one of the global centers for iPSC research, and Professor Shinya Yamanaka, who shared the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, is affiliated with this institution. In 2015, Takeda reached an agreement with Kyoto University, providing JPY 20 billion (approximately RMB 1.27 billion) in research funding to launch a collaborative project. Led by Professor Shinya Yamanaka, the project involves multiple experts in the field of stem cell research. Under the agreement, scientists will explore the potential applications of stem cells in immuno-oncology, cardiology, and diabetes at the Takeda Shonan Health Innovation Park.

The CAR-T therapy born out of iPSC technology (abbreviated as iCART) is the result of this collaboration. This therapy was developed by Professor Shin Kaneko’s team. It utilizes an induced pluripotent stem cell bank to create “universal” CAR-T therapies, which can be fine-tuned according to the needs of different patients. Today’s press release highlights its potential to generate large quantities of homogeneous cells for treatment through a single primary cell bank. Compared to first-generation CAR-T therapies, it is expected to reduce costs. In preclinical in vivo experiments, this “stem cell-derived CAR-T therapy” targeting CD19 demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity.

“The iCART project highlights the value of collaboration. We can apply iPSC technology to novel approaches in drug discovery, and also build a bridge to hand over promising projects to Takeda, thereby accelerating clinical development and application,” said Professor Shinya Yamanaka.

“Today, we joined Professor Shinya Yamanaka, Professor Shin Kaneko, and our colleagues at the Kyoto University Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) to celebrate the handover of our first collaborative cell therapy project to Takeda for clinical development,” said Dr. Andy Plump, President of Research and Development at Takeda. “The iCART program underscores our commitment to delivering breakthrough next-generation CAR-T therapies to patients through our cell therapy translation engine. Takeda currently has 12 CAR-T therapy development programs, including iCART, with five therapies scheduled to initiate their first-in-human trials in 2021.”

We anticipate that novel CAR-T therapies will transform patient treatment, enabling more rapid disease control.

References:

[1] First iPSC-Derived CAR T-Cell Therapy Created by Kyoto University CiRA and Takeda Collaboration Enters Process Development Toward Clinical Testing, Retrieved July 16, 2019, from https://www.cira.kyoto-u.ac.jp/e/pressrelease/news/190716-150000.html

[2] Takeda's translational cell therapy group revs up for a race to the clinic with off-the-shelf CAR-T, Retrieved July 16, 2019, from https://endpts.com/a-senior-vet-of-novartis-game-changing-car-t-has-moved-to-takeda-and-his-team-is-eyeing-a-leading-role-in-the-race-to-off-the-shelf-rivals/

Original Title: Express | Breakthrough! Nobel Prize-winning Technology Powers the Arrival of Stem Cell-induced CAR-T Therapy?

▽Follow [WuXi AppTecDe】WeChat Official Account