In vivo CAR-T cell engineering directly generates CAR-T cells in the body
Leucid Bio, a privately-held biotechnology company developing innovative Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies utilising its proprietary lateral CAR platform, and Syenex, an open-science genetic medicines platform company, have formed a strategic collaboration to access Syenex’s VivoCell Platform for the precise in vivo delivery of Leucid’s CAR-T assets, including LEU011, for the treatment of solid tumours.
In vivo CAR-T cell engineering directly generates CAR-T cells in the body and addresses several limitations of conventional CAR-T cell therapies. By enabling in vivo delivery, extensive and complex ex vivo cell processing is no longer necessary, enhancing overall clinical outcomes.
The collaboration focuses on harnessing Syenex’s VivoCell platform to deliver the LEU011 construct to T cells in vivo upon systemic administration. This is a next-generation approach transforming the therapeutic profile of Leucid’s lateral CAR platform, moving toward a simplified, potentially off-the-shelf administration route. Addressing the logistical challenges of ex vivo cell administration enables the collaboration to unlock the full potential of the lateral CAR-T platform, including LEU011.
Under the non-exclusive agreement, Syenex will give Leucid access to its VivoCell Platform and support the development of precision in vivo delivery vehicles tailored to Leucid’s lateral CAR-T candidates. The collaboration aims to accelerate the timeline of Leucid’s in vivo programme, advancing from in vitro proof-of-concept to IND-enabling studies, while facilitating Leucid’s continued clinical validation of LEU011 in the ongoing Phase I/IIa Aerial trial in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumours.
Filippo Petti, chief executive officer of Leucid Bio, said, “LEU011 has been well tolerated and demonstrated functional activity in our ongoing AERIAL trial for relapsed/refractory solid tumours. Gaining access to Syenex’s innovative VivoCell Platform will enable precise in vivo delivery of our CAR-T assets and will be key to maximising the therapeutic impact and accelerate our reach. This partnership with Syenex is key to advancing this powerful therapeutic into a more scalable, patient-friendly format, bringing us closer to addressing one of the greatest challenges in oncology.”
Jay Rosanelli, co-founder and chief executive officer of Syenex, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Leucid Bio to apply our precision delivery technology to their cutting-edge cell therapy. This collaboration advances our mission to Cure More and validates the power of our platform to enable the development of complex, next-generation CAR-T therapies, establishing the pathway toward an off-the-shelf product in a much more scalable and efficient in vivo format. By combining Leucid Bio’s pan-cancer CAR-T with our targeted delivery system, we aim to significantly improve treatment options for patients battling solid tumours.”
