AbelZeta, AstraZeneca Partner on Novel GPC3 Armored CAR-T Therapy

AbelZeta Pharma Inc., a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative cell therapies for cancer, inflammatory and immunological diseases, entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca to co-develop C-CAR031, an autologous, armored GPC3-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T Cells (CAR-T) therapy, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

C-CAR031 is based on a novel GPC3-targeting CAR-T (AZD5851) designed by AstraZeneca using their transforming growth factor-beta receptor II (TGFβRII) dominant negative armoring discovery platform and is manufactured by AbelZeta in China.

AbelZeta will receive an upfront payment from AstraZeneca for the co-development and commercialization of C-CAR031 in China. AbelZeta is also eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties for the global development of AZD5851, which is being solely developed, manufactured, and commercialized by AstraZeneca outside of China.

“We are pleased to collaborate with AstraZeneca in pursuing this novel CAR-T treatment for solid tumors,” said Tony (Bizuo) Liu, Chairman and CEO of AbelZeta. “The treatment of advanced HCC has always been a great challenge, and I believe this CAR-T therapy has the potential to redefine therapeutic paradigms in HCC and other GPC3-expressing solid tumors.”

Mark Cobbold, vice president, head cell therapy, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca said, “This agreement with AbelZeta accelerates the investigation of our innovative armoring CAR-T platform in solid tumors and advances our ambition to bring novel cell therapies to more people living with hard-to-treat cancers.”