Gilead advances next-generation CAR-T therapies in partnership with cell therapy companies

Gilead announced that its subsidiary Kite has partnered with Refuge, a company dedicated to developing smart cell therapies using genetic engineering technology Biotechnologies entered into a global licensing agreement, and Kite received an exclusive license to Refuge's intellectual property for blood cancer treatment, as well as a synthetic gene expression library
for that indication.
Refuge All rights and plans
related to solid tumor indications will be reserved.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kite will be responsible for all costs and activities
related to research, development, manufacturing and commercialization.
Kite will also make an upfront payment to Refuge, in an amount not disclosed, while Refuge Will be eligible for potential performance-based milestone payments
.

The Refuge platform is a synthetic biology system that uses expression regulatory strategies to inhibit or activate the transcription of target genes
.
Early preclinical data suggest that this highly modular platform has the potential to modulate target antigen-dependent gene expression as a way to improve the first generation A means of efficacy and safety of
CAR T cell therapy.

Francesco Marincola, global head of cell therapy research at Kite

Dr.
Francesco Marincola, head of global cell therapy research at Kite, said: "The first generation of autologous CAR-T Cell therapy has dramatically changed the prognosis for some blood cancer patients, but more needs to be done
.
As a global leader in CAR-T cell therapy, Kite Next-generation cell therapies are being researched, with the goal of improving existing therapies so that more patients can benefit
from them.
Through an exclusive license agreement with the Refuge platform, coupled with our unique in-house research capabilities, we aim to create a new generation of ones CAR-T cell products benefit
more patients.
”