Avalon GloboCare Advances Next Generation Cellular Immunotherapy with FLASH-CAR™ Technology for Blood Cancers
May 08 2020 - 9:00AM
Avalon GloboCare Corp. (NASDAQ: AVCO), a clinical-stage global
developer of cell-based technologies and therapeutics, announced
today that it has achieved significant milestones, advancing its
next generation immune cell therapy using
FLASH-CAR™ technology co-developed with the Company’s
strategic partner Arbele Limited. The adaptable
FLASH-CAR™ platform can be used to create personalized cell
therapy from a patient’s own cells, as well as off-the-shelf cell
therapy from a universal donor.
Currently available Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cellular
immunotherapy involves a patient’s own T-cells—a type of white
blood cell that protects against infections and other diseases
including cancer—that are turned into personalized cancer fighting
cells. The T-cells are removed from the patient, reprogrammed in
the lab using a viral vector to target cancer cells, and infused
back into the patient as a cancer immunotherapy.
In contrast to these existing therapies, Avalon’s
FLASH-CAR™ uses next generation CAR technology to modify
patients’ T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells using a ribonucleic
acid (RNA)-based platform rather than a viral vector. Similar to
T-cells, NK cells are a type of white blood cell, also able to
attack cancer cells, but utilize different mechanisms. By using RNA
molecules rather than a viral vector, Avalon’s RNA-based CAR
technology is designed to rapidly create personalized CAR therapies
in 1 to 2 days compared to the 10- to 14-day bio-manufacturing time
necessary to generate currently available CAR-T cellular
immunotherapy. Avalon’s FLASH-CAR™ technology is also designed
to reprogram the immune cells to hone in on multiple crucial cancer
cell targets, called tumor antigens, to potentially achieve
superior therapeutic effect. Avoiding the use of viral vectors and
complicated bio-processing procedures significantly reduces
manufacturing costs, resulting in a more affordable and potentially
breakthrough therapy for cancer patients. The
FLASH-CAR™ technology can also be used to generate
“off-the-shelf”, universal cell therapy that has the potential to
reach even more patients.
Avalon’s first FLASH-CAR™ platform candidate, AVA-011,
targets both CD19 and CD22 tumor antigens on cancer cells.
Pre-clinical research on AVA-011, including tumor cytotoxicity
studies, has been successfully completed and Avalon is immediately
entering the process development stage to generate clinical-grade
CAR-T and CAR-NK cells for use in human clinical trials. Avalon and
Arbele have jointly filed for USPTO provisional and PCT patents for
this RNA-based CAR platform cellular therapy and for other
applications.
Avalon expects to begin a first-in-human clinical trial with
AVA-011 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell
lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the
first quarter of 2021. The goal is to use AVA-011 as a bridge to
bone marrow stem cell transplant therapy, currently the only
curative approach for patients with these blood cancers.
“Avalon GloboCare is committed to decreasing the time it takes
to deliver cellular immunotherapies to cancer patients, as well as
lowering the cost of manufacturing by building on our unique
RNA-based CAR platform that does not require using a viral vector,”
stated David Jin, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of Avalon GloboCare. “We are accelerating our innovative
discovery and development plan, as well as delivering precise
clinical execution and leadership in cellular immunotherapy. Our
pre-clinical studies are encouraging and we are excited for AVA-011
to enter the clinical development stage, including multi-center
clinical trials following completion of process development to
generate the cell therapy,” said Dr. Jin.
“Through this strategic partnership with Avalon GloboCare, we
envision an accelerated scientific and clinical development of the
RNA-based FLASH-CAR™ technology platform with great potential
to generate “off-the-shelf” immune effector cell therapies to treat
both hematologic and solid malignancies,” said John Luk, Ph.D.,
EMBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arbele Limited.
About Arbele Limited
Founded in 2016, Arbele is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated
to improving the lives of cancer patients by developing therapies
for rare and hard-to-treat solid cancers using its cutting-edge
proprietary trispecific (TriAx) antibody and artificial
immunosurveillance-chimeric antigen receptor (AI-CAR™) cell
technologies. Arbele Limited is uniquely positioned to accelerate
drug development from innovation and translational research to
early stage clinical trials, with R&D operations across the
world (including in Seattle, USA, Hong Kong, China and Sydney,
Australia) and an established international network of
well-respected cancer centers. The company’s lead oncology drug
candidate, ARB202, will enter first-in-human clinical trials for
refractory pancreatic and bile-duct cancers in the fourth quarter
of 2020. The company is founded and managed by academic and
pharmaceutical industry veterans from J&J, Roche/Genentech,
Sanofi, ICOS Corp., and the University of Washington. For more
information about Arbele Corp., please visit www.arbelebio.com.
About Avalon GloboCare Corp.
Avalon GloboCare Corp. (NASDAQ: AVCO) is a clinical-stage,
vertically-integrated, leading CellTech bio-developer dedicated to
advancing and empowering innovative, transformative immune effector
cell therapy and exosome technology. Avalon also provides strategic
advisory and outsourcing services to facilitate and enhance its
clients' growth and development, as well as competitiveness in
healthcare and CellTech industry markets. Through its subsidiary
structure with unique integration of verticals from innovative
R&D to automated bioproduction and accelerated clinical
development, Avalon is establishing a leading role in the fields of
cellular immunotherapy (including CAR-T/NK), exosome technology
(ACTEX™), and regenerative therapeutics. For more information about
Avalon GloboCare, please visit www.avalon-globocare.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release may
constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements
provide current expectations of future events based on certain
assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate
to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements
as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at
their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors,
actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ
materially because of more general factors including (without
limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth
rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy
changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press
release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press
release and these views could change. However, while the Company
may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point
in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to
do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon
as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to
the date of the press release.
Contact Information: Avalon GloboCare Corp.4400 Route 9, Suite
3100Freehold, NJ 07728PR@Avalon-GloboCare.com
Investor Relations:Crescendo Communications, LLCTel: (212)
671-1020 Ext. 304avco@crescendo-ir.com
Avalon GloboCare (NASDAQ:AVCO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Avalon GloboCare (NASDAQ:AVCO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024