SINGAPORE – 8 Jul 2025 – CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but its efficacy against solid tumors remains limited due to challenges like poor CAR-T cell in-vivo survival.
In addition, an April 2025 study published in Nature Cancer by Wei Guo at al. further illustrated the multifarious utility of SB9 armoring in pre-clinical models of fratricide in solid tumors, addressing a major challenge of CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumor. Key highlights from their paper includes:
- Demonstrating the tumor’s self-defence mechanism of secreting extracellular vesicles that mediate the adoptive transfer of tumor antigens to CAR T cells resulting in increased fratricide.
- SB9 armoring results in improved resistance to such fratricide resulting in enhanced tumor infiltration and prolonged survival in preclinical models.
- Synergistic effects when combined with anti-PD1 antibodies, overcoming immune checkpoint resistance.
This insightful study further emphasizes the need to address the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment for CAR-T strategies against solid tumor and further validates our SerpinB9 armoring strategy. We believe Tikva’s engineered SB9 EBVST platform will not only address a major resistance mechanism axis but also opens doors to more effective CAR T cell therapies for solid tumors. A step closer to transforming cancer care!
