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Aurora Biopharma tackling glioblastoma with CAR-T immunotherapy; plans to raise $20M
A fresh contender is emerging in the glioblastoma space: Cambridge startup Aurora Biopharma is developing a CAR-T immunotherapy to treat this aggressive form of brain cancer. It’s looking to raise a $20 million Series A round, CEO Robert Brooks said in an interview at this week’s BIO CEO & Investor conference in Fresh York.
Glioblastoma is a devastating form of brain cancer that affects about 12,000 people per year in the U.S. alone – and people who are diagnosed get through under fifteen months on average. Immunotherapy, however, is proving promising in switching the paradigm for the disease.
Aurora’s CAR-T play here is pretty bold: There’s a common notion that this form of immunotherapy doesn’t work in solid tumors, or is unsafe for patients. Aurora recently conducted a 16-patient trial for glioblastoma using its CAR-T, which Brooks introduced at BIO CEO. According to Brooks, the drug was well tolerated, with no cytokine release syndrome as reported by other CAR-T companies – and strong signs of tumor killing efficacy. The results demonstrate significantly improved survival benefits among the puny cohort, Brooks said.
“We believe in having numerous antigens, not just one,” Brooks said. “We’re involved in bispecific and trispecific antigens.”
So far, Aurora been operating largely on some $15 million in grant funding, from the NIH and various charities. It plans on using the forthcoming Series A to help fund a larger, multisite phase 2B trial now for glioblastoma – applying for FDA breakthrough and orphan status for the disease.
Late last year, Boston immunotherapy player Celldex released mature survival data from its phase two data on its cancer vaccine, Rintega, in treating a specific form of glioblastoma. And it’s showcasing unprecedented survival benefits – and, importantly, improving the quality of patient lives.
“Celldex got breakthrough status, so I think we have a good shot at getting it as well,” Brooks said.
The competitive landscape in the glioblastoma space is full salute, and for good reason – immunotherapy is commencing to showcase real promise in treating this form of brain cancer. A January report from GlobalData projects that the glioblastoma market will expand fivefold by two thousand twenty four – from $659 million in two thousand fourteen to $Three.Three billion. A prime contender will be Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, however there’s promising work from a number of startups around the country.
Another competitor in the glioblastoma space is San Diego-based Tocagen, which is developing a retroviral replicating vector (RRV) gene transfer platform. Arizona startup Nuvox is also developing a therapy for glioblastoma, and recently received FDA orphan designation for its “radiation sensitizer” platform.
In addition to glioblastoma, Aurora is planning mid-stage Phase two human trials with its CAR-T therapy for osteosarcoma and metastatic breast cancer. Th company is also planning a Phase two trial for puny cell lung petite cell lung cancer and osteosarcoma using its P53 DC cancer vaccine.
“The lung cancer trial is planned be in combination with an anti-PD1 provided from a major drug company,” Brooks said, however he didn’t disclose which.