CytoArm Licenses CD19 Armed-T cell for Blood Cancer Drug Development to SL-LINK Company

Date: March 19, 2024
Innovative Partnership for Advanced Cancer Therapy
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SL-LINK Company has secured a license from CytoArm to develop the Armed-T cell therapy that targets blood cancers such as leukemia and multiple myeloma.

CD-19 is a B cell surface antigen that is expressed during the early stages of B cell development and continues to be present through the cell’s lifespan. It is absent in most other cell types, making it an ideal target for therapies aimed at B cell malignancies. These cancers include:

1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): A type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, ALL is particularly aggressive and common in children.
2. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): A slower-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that typically affects older adults.
3. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): The most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterized by rapidly growing tumors in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, or other organs.
4. Follicular Lymphoma: A generally slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that arises from B cells.

The Role of CD-19 in Cancer Therapy

The expression of CD-19 on B cells and its critical role in the pathogenesis of B-cell malignancies make it an attractive target for cancer therapy. Traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, while effective to a degree, often come with significant side effects and are not always successful in eradicating the disease. This has led to the development of more targeted approaches, including CD-19 Armed-T cell therapy.

The benefits of CD-19 Armed-T cell therapy are targeting patients who have exhausted all other treatment options. Ongoing development aims to improve the safety and efficacy of this treatment, making it more accessible and affordable.