29th May 2020 09:07
(Alliance News) - Syncona Ltd on Friday said portfolio company Achilles Therapeutics Ltd has dosed the first patient in its Phase I/II study of its treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic malignant melanoma.
The healthcare-focused investment firm explained that Achilles's tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy has been designed to target clonal neoantigens, which are the protein markers on the surface of all cancer cells that are unique from patient to patient.
Achilles will use its bioinformatics platform PELEUS as well as its TRACERx data set derived from cancer patients over many years, to identify a patient's unique tumour profile and manufacture bespoke T-cells, called cNeTs, aimed at targeting and destroying tumours without harming healthy tissue.
Syncona said the study is a single-dose Phase I/II trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and clinical efficacy of cNeT therapy in 20 patients with recurrent or metastatic malignant melanoma. Test results are expected to be published in the first half of 2021.
"We are delighted that Achilles has dosed its first patient with its proprietary cNeT cell therapy. This is the first TIL therapy to enter clinical trials that is specifically designed to target all cancer cells, and that represents an exciting prospect for science and for patients. Importantly, today's news demonstrates Achilles' capability to manufacture an entirely personalised T-cell therapy, and therefore its potential to deliver a commercially viable therapy that could dramatically improve patient outcomes," said Martin Murphy, chief executive of Syncona Investment Management Ltd & non-executive director of Achilles Therapeutics.
Shares in FTSE 250-listed Syncona were trading flat at 204.60 pence each on Friday morning in London.
By Ife Taiwo; [email protected]
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