PeproMene Bio reports positive phase 1 results for CAR-T therapy

Novel cellular immunotherapy has shown a promising outcome for patients who have experienced relapses in blood cancers, according to new clinical data by PeproMene Bio.

Dr. Larry Kwak, the scientific founder of PeproMene Bio and deputy director of City of Hope's comprehensive cancer center, speaks during a press and investor conference held in central Seoul on Thursday. [PEPROMENE BIO]

Novel cellular immunotherapy has shown a promising outcome for patients who have experienced relapses in blood cancers, according to new clinical data by PeproMene Bio.

The Irvine, California-based company, founded by Dr. Larry Kwak in 2016, announced the findings from phase 1 clinical trials of its chimeric antigen-receptor bearing T cells (CAR-T) therapy in a press and investor conference held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, central Seoul, on Thursday.

Kwak, a world-renowned U.S. oncologist on TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” list in 2010, and the company’s executives and researchers attended the event. Kwak is also the deputy director of City of Hope's comprehensive cancer center.

CAR-T is a type of immunotherapy that genetically reprograms a patient’s cytotoxic T cells to enable them to recognize and kill cancerous cells. It is considered one of the most advanced cancer treatment modalities.

However, about 30 percent of the patients who had CAR-T treatments currently available in the market — which target B-lymphocyte CD19 molecule — have experienced relapse.

PeproMene’s B-cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) CAR-T treatment has so far proven to be effective for those who failed the previous CAR-T therapies with little side effects and enhanced stability, according to the company.

PeproMene began its phase 1 clinical trial last year at City of Hope in two patients who relapsed on previous CAR-T therapy and one patient with large B-cell lymphoma who had chemotherapies prior. All three patients demonstrated a 100 percent response rate. Two patients have shown cancer-free remission one month after the CAR-T injection, and one has seen cancer-free remission 90 days after.

“We observed very promising activities, and all three patients achieved CR [complete response],” said Dr. Elizabeth Budde, who spearheaded the clinical trial, adding that “this is really at the lowest dose level.” The company plans to proceed with the clinical trial with dose level 2 with an additional three patients, according to Budde.

“What Dr. Kwak and his team came up with can really compete with [existing] CAR-T and really help these patients that have failed this type of treatment,” said Dr. Paul Song, a board member of PeproMene and the business adviser.

“So not only can we help those patients that failed those CAR-T, but also we can expand the market even more,” stressed Song. According to Evaluate Pharma, the global CAR-T therapy market was estimated at $1.58 billion as of 2021 and is expected to reach $10.32 billion in size by 2026.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]