Carina Biotech and Sydney-based immuno-oncology company Glytherix are pleased to announce a co-development agreement that could result in a promising new CAR-T therapy that is effective in killing a range of cancers.

Glytherix is developing its proprietary antibody Miltuximab® for the targeted treatment of a number of cancers. Miltuximab® is specific for GPC-1, a protein found in solid tumours such as prostate, bladder, pancreatic, glioblastoma, oesophageal and ovarian cancers, and is not present in healthy tissue.

The agreement with Glytherix will see Carina use its CAR-T development platform to create and optimise a library of CAR-T cells targeted at GPC-1, creating jointly owned IP.

This is the second recent commercial deal for Carina, after it sold the IP rights to its first successful CAR-T cell to UK-based biopharmaceutical company Biosceptre in July 2020.

Deborah Rathjen, PhD, CEO of Carina Biotech says: “We are delighted to have partnered with Glytherix, a company that shares our vision of defeating cancer. Carina Biotech has substantial experience in creating potent, targeted CAR-T cell-based therapies. Combining our knowledge and expertise, we believe will lead to the identification of a GPC-1-targeted CAR-T cell that is effective in killing a range of cancers.”

Brad Walsh, PhD, CEO of GlyTherix Ltd, commented: “We are excited to commence our CAR-T development program with Carina Biotech, whose expertise, track record and experienced management made it an easy choice. We are looking forward to working together on this unique target with a view to making a difference in the lives of cancer patients, particularly those with currently limited treatment options.”

ABOUT GLYTHERIX Glytherix, is an Australian immuno-oncology company specialising in therapeutics for solid tumours expressing Glypican-1 (GPC-1), the basis for its proprietary antibody Miltuximab®. Glytherix are investigating multiple mechanisms of action including radioimmunotherapy, bi-specific antibodies and immune cell engagement and activation. They have completed a ‘first-in-human’ clinical trial of 12 patients with advanced prostate, bladder and pancreatic cancer using Miltuximab®, with no drug-related adverse events observed. Glytherix are based in Sydney, adjacent to Macquarie University and the Macquarie University Hospital, one of their key collaborators.