Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals launches Phase I AML trial for HG-CT-1 CAR-T therapy

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE: HEMO), a leading biopharmaceutical company, has taken a significant step forward in the fight against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by initiating its Phase I clinical trial for HG-CT-1, a novel CAR-T cell therapy. The trial, now underway at a prestigious cancer research institution, is focused on relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML, a form of blood cancer with limited treatment options and poor survival rates.

Pioneering Treatment for a High-Unmet Need

AML, the most prevalent acute leukemia in adults, has a dismal prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of less than 30%. Current therapies, such as chemotherapy, often come with significant side effects and limited long-term efficacy, leaving a pressing need for innovative solutions. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals’ HG-CT-1 therapy seeks to address these challenges by harnessing the power of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T).

CAR-T therapy modifies a patient’s immune cells to specifically target and eliminate cancer cells. The process involves extracting T-cells from the patient, engineering them to express a receptor that recognises AML-specific markers, expanding the modified cells in a laboratory, and reinfusing them into the patient. This targeted approach has the potential to provide a safer and more effective alternative to traditional treatments.

Trial Objectives: Advancing Scientific Understanding

The Phase I trial, structured as a dose-escalation study, is designed to assess the safety profile of HG-CT-1 in adult patients with R/R AML. Secondary objectives include evaluating critical clinical outcomes such as progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DoR), and AML-specific response rates.

This comprehensive evaluation will provide crucial data on the therapy’s potential to improve outcomes for patients who currently face limited treatment options. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals’ decision to conduct the trial at a world-renowned cancer research centre underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based solutions for challenging diseases.

A Milestone in Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals’ Journey

The launch of this trial marks a pivotal moment for Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals. The Company, headquartered in London with cutting-edge research facilities in New York City, has developed a robust pipeline of innovative therapies targeting blood and autoimmune diseases. HG-CT-1 represents the flagship program in its portfolio, reflecting years of dedicated research and development.

Dr Vladislav Sandler, CEO and Co-Founder of Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals, highlighted the importance of this milestone. He described the trial as a major step in transforming the treatment landscape for relapsed and refractory AML. Dr Sandler expressed optimism about the potential of HG-CT-1 to offer new hope for patients with few therapeutic alternatives.

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals: At the Forefront of Innovation

The company’s broader mission extends beyond AML treatment. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals is leveraging its proprietary platform technologies to develop a range of complementary therapies and medicines. These efforts are aimed at expanding the curative potential of bone marrow transplantation and improving outcomes for patients with life-threatening conditions.

As Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals continues to advance its pipeline, the success of the HG-CT-1 trial could serve as a blueprint for future innovations in cancer therapy. The trial’s results will also contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting CAR-T therapies as a viable approach for treating hematologic malignancies.