Leman Biotech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Leman Biotech"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on development, production, and commercialization of innovative metabolic immunotherapies, has entered into a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement with Nanjing Kati Medical Technology Co. Ltd. (referred to as " Nanjing KATI "), a leading biotech company in the development of next-generation CAR-T for solid tumors. The two parties will explore the application and translational capability of metabolic reprogramming technology (Meta 10) in CAR-T therapies with a focus on the treatment of solid tumors, and jointly advance the development of cell therapy industry.
Leman Biotech's Meta 10 technology can promote the oxidative phosphorylation metabolism of terminally exhausted T cells, thereby reactivating these T cells, restoring their proliferative potential and cytotoxicity, and effectively enhancing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. By overcoming T cell exhaustion, a major obstacle in current immunotherapies, Leman Biotech has the potential to greatly improve the overall response rate of most existing T cell-based immunotherapies and may offer a curative approach for solid tumors.
Preclinical studies have provided strong evidence of the potent anti-tumor activity of metabolically-enhanced CAR-T cells, particularly the strong activity against T cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment. These studies have demonstrated remarkable tumor eradication capabilities in mouse subcutaneous tumor models, lung cancer metastasis models, and NSG human tumor models, as well as inducing memory immune cells and preventing tumor recurrence. Furthermore, our ongoing Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials (IIT) involve the use of metabolically-enhanced CAR-T cells targeting CD19, which incorporates the Meta 10 technology platform. So far, this IIT clinical trial has already completed the treatment of three patients, achieving clinical cures with significantly low doses (5% of the conventional therapeutic dose). Leman Biotech is endeavouring to advance the development of cell therapy for solid tumors.
Nanjing KATI is committed to the development of novel CAR-T cell therapies for the treatment of malignant solid tumors and is at the forefront of next-generation CAR-T research and development against solid tumors. The company has successfully developed multiple CAR-T pipeline drugs targeting malignant solid tumors, with the most mature pipeline entering comprehensive commercialization rapidly. The strategic cooperation between Leman Biotech and Nanjing KATI will facilitate the clinical application and translation of Meta 10 technology in solid tumors, enhance the therapeutic potential of CAR-T cell therapies for cancers, and promote innovation and development in the cell therapy industry, bringing new hope to cancer patients.
Nanjing Kati Medical Technology Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical research and development company dedicated to the development of novel CAR-T cell therapies for the treatment of malignant solid tumors. Leveraging its advanced immune receptor library technology platform, Kati Medical has successfully developed multiple pipeline drugs targeting malignant solid tumors, including DAP-CAR-T, a CAR-T that resists the tumor microenvironment; secretion-type CAR-T that promotes persistence and anti-exhaustion; VIVO CAR, a low-cost rapid manufacturing platform; TCR-T that redirects TCR signaling; and dual-target CAR-T with dual binding sites. The company has filed for a total of 38 domestic and international patents and has been granted 3 patents.
Nanjing KATI was founded by Dr. Enxiu Wang, a core member of the Carl June team, a pioneer in CAR-T immunotherapy, returning to China to establish an innovative cell therapy company. The University of Pennsylvania is the well-known cradle of CAR-T drug development. Adhering to its pioneering and pragmatic style, Nanjing KATI is committed to the independent development and application of innovative drugs, focusing on the four product matrices of “Identification, Activation, Carrier, and Technology" in solid tumor cell therapy.
