TC BioPharm Initiates Phase I Trial of Allogeneic Gamma Delta T Cell Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

TC BioPharm (TCB), a developer of allogeneic CAR-T immuno-oncology products, and leaders in Gamma Delta T (GDT) cell therapies, today announced it has initiated a Phase I clinical study of TCB002, an allogeneic cell therapy consisting of activated and expanded gamma delta T cells. The trial, for treatment of patients suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), is being conducted at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (ÚHKT) in Prague, Czech Republic. Patient recruitment commenced January 2019 following regulatory approval late 2018. Dose escalation is in progress, with completion of treatment imminent for the first patient cohort. The clinical trial is registered with identifier NCT03790072. Developed by TC BioPharm, TCB002 comprises GDT cells sourced from healthy donors, expanded and activated in large numbers before being purified and formulated for infusion into patients. The donors are selected based on criteria designed to ensure that the cells are potent killers of cancer cells, and can be a more effective and consistent treatment compared to the patient’s own cells. GDT cells are a subset of lymphocytes which have both innate and adaptive immune properties and represent an emerging therapeutic option for cancer and other diseases. Use of allogeneic GDT cells from healthy donor cell banks paves the way for development of superior drug products through screening and selection of the highest quality starting material, facilitating preparation of consistent batches capable of treating many patients.