Small Molecule Modulators of Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) T Cells

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a method and composition of immunomodulatory compounds that prevent and reverse T cell exhaustion, improving on existing CAR T cell therapies.

Harnessing the immune system for developing therapeutics has demonstrated a significant benefit in various disease areas, especially against oncological indications. Consequently, immunotherapeutics have gradually gained a strong foothold in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite this, the long-term efficacy and side effects of immunotherapies, such as CAR T cells, can be precarious, hindering their wider adoption.

Now, researchers at Stanford have developed technologies with tremendous potential to overcome one common side effect of these therapies, T cell exhaustion. They identified a new class of small molecules that potently and transiently inhibit T cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine secretion. This prevented and reversed T cell exhaustion, a common side effect of immunotherapies, in mouse models. Additionally, these compounds can be administered with various genetically engineered T cells, demonstrating a wide range of potential applications. Combining these molecules with existing immunotherapies can lead to improved treatment safety and efficacy.

Stage of Development
Research - In vivo