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Allogene Therapeutics announced that preclinical findings supporting DLL3-targeted AlloCAR T therapy in small cell lung cancer, or SCLC, and inducible TurboCAR technology were presented in poster sessions at the virtual American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. In research featured during the virtual meeting, genetically modified T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors targeting Delta-like ligand 3 were screened, characterized and ranked against targets using in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Highly active DLL3 CARs displaying long-term killing potential were engineered to contain a rituximab off-switch. Lead DLL3 candidates were tested in vivo and robust efficacy was observed in both subcutaneous and systemic models of SCLC. Additionally, while DLL3 RNA has normal tissue expression in the brain, pituitary and testis, toxicity studies using subcutaneous and intracranial tumor models showed no tissue damage in the brain or pituitary. In a second poster, researchers presented data on a version of Allogene's TurboCAR technology that allows cytokine activation signaling to be selectively controlled by a small-molecule on-switch. This iTurboCAR can be activated by a clinically validated dimerizer drug to improve the potency and persistence of CAR T cells.

Allogene Therapeutics announced a publication in Molecular Therapy demonstrating the potential for ALLO-819, an investigational AlloCAR T therapy targeting FLT3 as a novel treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. These preclinical findings were previously presented as a poster at the 61st American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition in December 2019. In this study, healthy donor T lymphocytes were engineered to express CARs that bound to different domains of the FLT3 protein. These CARs were then tested for their ability to mediate specific killing of FLT3-expressing cells without off-target activity. A CAR construct was selected based on exhibiting minimal potential for exhaustion and potent antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo models.The lead candidate was then engineered to contain an off-switch responsive to rituximab, resulting in ALLO-819.

Revolution Medicines (RVMD) announced the appointments of Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., and Peter Svennilson to its board of directors. Mr. Svennilson was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Larry Lasky, Ph.D., who stepped down from the board of directors and will continue supporting the company as a scientific advisor. Schmidt currently serves as the chief financial officer of Allogene Therapeutics (ALLO). Svennilson founded The Column Group in 2007 and has worked in venture capital and finance for more than 35 years.