ViroCell, UCL Enter CAR T-cell Therapy Manufacturing Pact

ViroCell Biologics, a specialist viral vector CDMO for cell and gene therapy clinical trials, entered into a partnership with University College London (UCL) to advance a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Genetically modified CAR T-cells targeting CD19 have shown impressive outcomes in relapsed/refractory ALL. However, 50% of responding patients will relapse either due to evolution of CD19 negative disease or early loss of CAR T-cells so that only around 40% of patients are cured by the currently licensed CAR T-cell therapies.

To address these challenges, Persis Amrolia, professor of transplantation immunology at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, developed a solution that preserves early “stem cell memory” T-cells, which persist longer in patients together with dual targeting with both CD19 and CD22 CAR T-cells to prevent antigen-negative relapse.

ViroCell will provide the manufacturing of high-specificity lentiviral vectors for UCL’s Phase I clinical trial in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory ALL. The study is expected to initiate in 2Q24.

ViroCell’s manufacturing operations at the Zayed Center for Research recently received approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency. The manufacturer’s authorization license allows ViroCell to manufacture and globally export its high-quality viral vectors for use in cell and gene therapy clinical trials.

Farzin Farzaneh, chief scientific officer of ViroCell, said, “We are honored to be partnering with such a prestigious research institution as UCL to bring next generation CAR T-cells to pediatric patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We at ViroCell are passionately focused on leveraging our experience in viral vector design and supply to support bringing innovative therapies like professor Amrolia’s to patients.”

Amrolia said, “I am excited to be working with ViroCell to supply the lentiviral vector for our relapsed ALL program. The depth of experience of the team, paired with their commitment to speed in manufacturing, testing and release makes ViroCell the ideal partner for innovators looking to transition their therapy swiftly from vector design to manufacturing and, ultimately, into patients.”