Research we fund

In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to "Support allogeneic CD371 (CLL-1) CAR development for acute myeloid leukemia." Caribou is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers. CB-012, Caribou’s third allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy, an allogeneic anti-CD371 CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is in preclinical development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia with a projected IND filing in the second half of 2023. CD371 is expressed on the surface of AML tumor cells and leukemic stem cells, but it is not expressed on normal hematopoietic stem cells, which makes it a compelling target for the treatment of AML. Caribou is applying their genome editing expertise to armor the CB-012 CAR-T product in order to drive persistence and seek maximum patient benefit.  

Project Term: February 28, 2021 - TBD

In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to support "A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of CB-011, a CRISPR-Edited Allogeneic Anti-BCMA CAR-T Cell Therapy in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma." Caribou is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers.CB-011, Caribou’s second allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy, targets BCMA for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and is immunologically cloaked for enhanced persistence. The CaMMouflage Phase 1 clinical trial, a multicenter, open-label study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single dose of CB-011 in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM), is currently enrolling (NCT05722418).

Project Term: February 28, 2021 - TBD

Starting in July 2010, LLS TAP supported a promising University of Michigan research project led by Jolanta Grembecka, PhD, to develop new treatments for patients with a rare and lethal subtype of leukemia. Through TAP, LLS engaged chemists to improve the properties that produced lead compounds that exhibited potent anti-leukemic activity. In 2014, LLS introduced Kura Oncology to the project that ultimately led to Kura Oncology completing a licensing agreement with the University of Michigan to continue to develop these molecules.Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer with a pipeline that consists of small molecule drug candidates that target cancer signaling pathways.Ziftomenib (KO-539) is selective small molecule inhibitor of menin. A Phase 2 registration-directed clinical trial in patients with NPM1-mutant relapsed or refractory AML completed enrollment (NCT04067336). 

Project Term: December 22, 2014 - TBD

In March 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Immune-Onc Therapeutics to support the "Phase 1 Clinical Development of IO-202, An Antibody Targeting LILRB4, for the Treatment of AML with Monocytic Differentiation and CMML." Immune-Onc is a private, clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel myeloid checkpoint inhibitors for cancer patients. The company aims to translate unique scientific insights in myeloid cell biology and immune inhibitory receptors to discover and develop first-in-class biotherapeutics that reverse immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Immune-Onc has a differentiated pipeline with a current focus on targeting the Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor subfamily B (LILRB) of myeloid checkpoints. The company’s work builds on early research by Chengcheng (Alec) Zhang, Ph.D. at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center that was also funded by LLS grants. IO-202 is a first-in-class antibody targeting the LILRB4 and has entered a phase 1 cohort expansion clinical trial (NCT0437243) for the treatment of AML (IO-202 in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax) and CMML (IO-202 in combination with azacitidine). 

Project Term: March 5, 2021 - TBD

In August 2017, LLS TAP partnered with Ryvu Therapeutics (formerly known as Selvita) to support "A Phase Ib Study of SEL120 in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia or High-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome." Ryvu Therapeutics is a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focusing on novel small molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology using a proprietary discovery engine platform. RVU120 (SEL120) is a highly selective first-in-class CDK8/CDK19 small molecule inhibitor. RVU120 is currently in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (NCT04021368), enrolling in the US and Poland. 

Project Term: August 7, 2017 - December 31, 2023

In March 2020, LLS made an equity investment in Kymera Therapeutics to "Support Key Studies with IRAK4 Protein Degraders for Future Development in Hematological Patients." Kymera Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded with the mission to discover, develop, and commercialize transformative therapies while leading the evolution of targeted protein degradation, a transformative new approach to address previously intractable disease targets. Whereas most targeted therapies inhibit or inactivate the proteins or genes that drive the cancer, targeted protein degradation harnesses the body’s natural system of ridding itself of unwanted, “old” or “broken” components of cells. KT-413 is a dual protein degrader of IRAK4 and IMiD substrates. KT-413 is in a Phase 1 clinical trial currently enrolling DLBCL patients (NCT05233033).

Project Term: March 11, 2020 - TBD

In July 2012, LLS began its partnership with Constellation to support three first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trials for blood cancer patients and is currently supporting "A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Active-Control Study of CPI-0610 and Ruxolitinib vs. Placebo and Ruxolitinib in JAKi Treatment Naive MF Patients." Constellation Pharmaceuticals was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics that selectively modulate gene expression to address serious unmet medical needs in patients with cancer. MorphoSys acquired Constellation in July 2021 and continues to enroll patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms in multiple clinical studies. Pelabresib (CPI-0610) is a small molecule inhibitor of bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins. Pelabresib in combination with ruxolitinib is in a Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT04603495) for myelofibrosis patients that have not been previously treated with Janus kinase inhibitors.

Project Term: July 31, 2012 - TBD

In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Carisma Therapeutics to "Support CAR Macrophage Development for Blood Cancers." Carisma is a biopharmaceutical company developing a differentiated and proprietary cell therapy platform focused on engineered macrophages. Carisma is looking at an innovative way to harness yet another part of the human immune system. Carisma is a spin out company from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), founded by Saar Gill, M.D., Ph.D. and Michael Klichinsky, PharmD, Ph.D., SVP of Research. Early work at Penn was supported in part by LLS grants. Based on preclinical studies, the company’s highly differentiated CAR-macrophage (CAR-M) platform may have the potential to overcome challenges encountered by other cell therapies such as trafficking limitations to the tumor site, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments and the heterogeneous expression of tumor-associated antigens. Carisma is working closely with LLS TAP to develop one or more CAR-M therapies for blood cancers.

Project Term: February 22, 2021 - TBD

In August 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Immunitas Therapeutics to support the "Phase 1 Clinical Development of IMT-009, an Antibody Targeting CD161, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphomas."Immunitas is committed to discovering and developing novel, differentiated therapeutics for patients with cancer. Their discovery engine combines deep expertise in single-cell genomics with customized machine learning approaches to elucidate immune cell populations that are key actors in immuno-oncology. Immunitas complements this process with bespoke in-house therapeutic discovery rooted in antibody display and immunization. The company was founded by Longwood Fund with leading scientists from Dana-Farber, MGH, the Broad, and MIT.IMT-009, a first-in-class NK and T cell modulator targeting CD161, is being developed for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphomas and is in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT05565417). 

Project Term: August 10, 2021 - TBD

In August 2013, LLS began its first European partnership with Affimed that supported two clinical trials for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients. Expanding upon the initial work supported by LLS TAP, Affimed is currently enrolling "Bispecific NK Engager AFM13 Combined With NK Cells for Patients With Recurrent of Refractory CD30 Positive Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas." Affimed is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer by actualizing the untapped potential of the innate immune system using the proprietary ROCK® platform to enable a tumor-targeted approach to recognize and kill a range of hematologic and solid tumors. AFM13 is bispecific tetravalent engager targeting CD30 on tumor cells and CD16A on NK cells and macrophages. AFM13 in combination with modified natural killer cells is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial in relapsed or refractory CD30-positive lymphoma (NCT04074746).

Project Term: August 26, 2013 - June 30, 2020

In August 2014, LLS made an equity investment in OncoPep which is currently supporting "A Phase 1b Study of PVX-410, a Multi-Peptide Cancer Vaccine, and Citarinostat (CC-96241), a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (HDAC) With and Without Lenalidomide for Patients With Smoldering Multiple Myeloma." OncoPep is developing targeted immunotherapeutics to prevent the progression of cancer, prolong survival and restore the quality of life of patients.  PVX-410 is a multi-peptide therapeutic vaccine being evaluated in smoldering multiple myeloma and triple negative breast cancer. PVX-410 is currently being tested in combination with citarinostat (small molecule inhibitor of HDAC) and lenalidomide in patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (NCT02886065).

Project Term: August 18, 2014 - TBD

In November 2020, LLS made an equity investment in Abintus Bio to "Support in vivo CAR Development for Blood Cancers." Abintus Bio is developing cutting-edge in vivo CAR therapies that allow for powerful CAR T cells to be generated directly in a patient’s body, eliminating the need for time-consuming and costly collection, engineering and re-infusion of patient T cells. Abintus plans to develop a portfolio of first-in-class product candidates that reprogram immune cells in vivo to eliminate tumors utilizing proprietary vectors and vector-engineering technologies. This technology is currently in preclinical testing and could, if successful, support immediate patient dosing, a substantial benefit for patients facing advanced forms of cancer with a poor prognosis. Abintus’ platform is versatile and scalable, so they have the potential to meet the needs of a much larger patient population.

Project Term: November 3, 2020 - TBD