Cartesian Therapeutics announced 12-month efficacy and safety data from the phase 2b trial of its lead cell therapy candidate, Descartes-08, in participants with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG).
Participants treated with Descartes-08 were observed to have deep responses following initial treatment and sustained symptom improvement, with an average MG Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score reduction of 5.5 at month 4 and 4.8 at month 12.
The subset of participants who did not have exposure to prior biologic therapies fared the best, exhibiting a deepening of responses throughout the year, with an average MG-ADL reduction of 6.6 at month 4 and 7.1 at month 12.
Back in December, Cartesian had shared positive updated results from the phase 2a trial, as well as positive results from retreated participants. The company also provided details on the design of its planned phase 3 trial of Descartes-08, scheduled start in the first half of 2025.
Descartes-08 is an autologous mRNA-engineered chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (mRNA CAR-T) product candidate targeting B cell maturation antigen (BCMA). The therapy, which can be administered in an outpatient setting, is designed to be administered without preconditioning chemotherapy and does not use integrating vectors.
Current standards of care for myasthenia gravis, a rare and incurable autoimmune disorder that causes disabling muscle weakness and fatigue, offer only broad immunosuppression and limited efficacy.
Cartesian plans to present the new data tomorrow, April 9, 2025, at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting being held in San Diego.
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