On September 14, 2022, Tessa Therapeutics Ltd. announced that its allogeneic CD30.CAR EBVST cell therapy, TT11X, was awarded in the “Most Promising Off-the-Shelf Therapies” category at the Asia-Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Excellence Awards 2022, held alongside the 6th Cell & Gene Therapy World Asia event.

TT11X is built on Tessa’s proprietary platform that utilizes Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cells (EBVSTs). This innovative approach was developed through extensive research by Malcolm Brenner, M.D., Ph.D., and his team at Baylor College of Medicine, focusing on the effectiveness of virus-specific T cells in targeting infected cells while stimulating broader immune responses. Early clinical trials have shown that these allogeneic T cells, which do not require genetic modification, exhibit a strong safety profile with minimal risks of graft rejection and Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD).

The ongoing Phase 1 study (NCT04288726) of TT11X in patients with CD30-positive lymphomas has yielded positive results, with seven out of nine participants demonstrating clinical responses, including complete tumor remission in four cases.

Dr. Ivan Horak, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of Tessa Therapeutics, expressed enthusiasm over the recognition and highlighted the potential of allogeneic cell therapy to enhance accessibility and affordability in CAR-T treatments while addressing toxicity issues. The promising data from the Phase 1 trial indicates that the CD30.CAR EBVST platform could effectively mitigate toxicity challenges.

Tessa Therapeutics is dedicated to developing next-generation cell therapies for hematological cancers and solid tumors, with its headquarters in Singapore and a state-of-the-art cell therapy manufacturing facility. For more information, visit Tessa’s official website.