CARGO Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Anticipated Milestones for 2025
CARGO Therapeutics has provided a corporate update and outlined anticipated milestones for 2025. As of December 31, 2024, 71 patients have been dosed in the potentially pivotal Phase 2 clinical study of firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel). Interim analysis results are expected in the first half of 2025. The FDA has cleared the IND application for CRG-023, CARGO’s tri-specific CAR T-cell therapy, with Phase 1 study enrollment expected to begin mid-2025. Additionally, CARGO has announced a novel allogeneic platform designed to limit immune-based rejection of CAR T-cell therapies. This platform aims to convert autologous CAR T-cell therapies into allogeneic products for broader patient benefit.
Financially, CARGO reported preliminary cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $368.1 million as of December 31, 2024, which is expected to fund operations through 2026. Gina Chapman, President and CEO, emphasized the company’s progress and future potential at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
CARGO Therapeutics ha fornito un aggiornamento aziendale e ha delineato i traguardi previsti per il 2025. Al 31 dicembre 2024, 71 pazienti sono stati trattati nello studio clinico di fase 2, che potrebbe rivelarsi cruciale, riguardante firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel). I risultati dell'analisi intermedia sono attesi nella prima metà del 2025. La FDA ha approvato la domanda IND per CRG-023, la terapia CAR T-cell tri-specifica di CARGO, con l'inizio dell'arruolamento nello studio di fase 1 previsto per la metà del 2025. Inoltre, CARGO ha annunciato una nuova piattaforma allogenica progettata per limitare il rigetto immunitario delle terapie CAR T-cell. Questa piattaforma mira a convertire le terapie CAR T-cell autologhe in prodotti allogenici per un beneficio maggiore dei pazienti.
Dal punto di vista finanziario, CARGO ha riportato un patrimonio preliminare in contante, equivalenti di cassa e titoli negoziabili di 368,1 milioni di dollari al 31 dicembre 2024, che si prevede sarà sufficiente a finanziare le operazioni fino al 2026. Gina Chapman, Presidente e CEO, ha sottolineato i progressi e il potenziale futuro dell'azienda durante la 43ª Conferenza Annuale J.P. Morgan Healthcare.
CARGO Therapeutics ha proporcionado una actualización corporativa y ha esbozado los hitos anticipados para 2025. Al 31 de diciembre de 2024, se han tratado a 71 pacientes en el estudio clínico de fase 2, que puede ser crucial, relacionado con firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel). Se esperan resultados de análisis interinos en la primera mitad de 2025. La FDA ha aprobado la solicitud IND para CRG-023, la terapia CAR T-cell trispecífica de CARGO, con la inscripción en el estudio de fase 1 prevista para mediados de 2025. Además, CARGO ha anunciado una nueva plataforma alogénica diseñada para limitar el rechazo inmunológico de las terapias CAR T-cell. Esta plataforma tiene como objetivo convertir las terapias CAR T-cell autólogas en productos alogénicos para un mayor beneficio de los pacientes.
Desde el punto de vista financiero, CARGO informó de un patrimonio preliminar en efectivo, equivalentes de efectivo y valores negociables de 368,1 millones de dólares al 31 de diciembre de 2024, que se espera financie las operaciones hasta 2026. Gina Chapman, Presidenta y CEO, enfatizó el progreso y el potencial futuro de la empresa durante la 43ª Conferencia Anual de J.P. Morgan Healthcare.
CARGO Therapeutics는 기업 업데이트를 제공하고 2025년을 위한 예상 이정표를 설명했습니다. 2024년 12월 31일 기준으로, firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel)의 잠재적으로 중대한 2상 임상 연구에서 71명의 환자가 투여되었습니다. 중간 분석 결과는 2025년 상반기 내에 발표될 예정입니다. FDA는 CARGO의 삼중 특이적 CAR T 세포 요법인 CRG-023의 IND 신청을 승인했으며, 1상 연구의 등록은 2025년 중반에 시작될 것으로 예상됩니다. 또한, CARGO는 CAR T 세포 요법의 면역 기반 거부 반응을 제한하도록 설계된 새로운 이종 플랫폼을 발표했습니다. 이 플랫폼은 자가 CAR T 세포 요법을 이종 제품으로 전환하여 더 넓은 환자 혜택을 목표로 하고 있습니다.
재무적으로, CARGO는 2024년 12월 31일 기준으로 3억 6810만 달러의 현금, 현금 등가물 및 매각 가능한 증권을 보고했으며, 이는 2026년까지 운영 자금을 지원할 것으로 보입니다. 기나 채프먼, 사장 겸 CEO는 제43회 연례 J.P. 모건 헬스케어 컨퍼런스에서 회사의 진행 상황과 미래 잠재력을 강조했습니다.
CARGO Therapeutics a fourni une mise à jour de l'entreprise et a esquissé les étapes prévues pour 2025. Au 31 décembre 2024, 71 patients ont été traités dans l'étude clinique de phase 2 potentiellement décisive concernant firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel). Les résultats de l'analyse intermédiaire sont attendus dans la première moitié de 2025. La FDA a approuvé la demande IND pour CRG-023, la thérapie CAR T-cell trispecifique de CARGO, et l'inscription à l'étude de phase 1 devrait commencer à la mi-2025. De plus, CARGO a annoncé une nouvelle plateforme allogénique conçue pour limiter le rejet immunitaire des thérapies CAR T-cell. Cette plateforme vise à convertir les thérapies CAR T-cell autologues en produits allogéniques pour un bénéfice plus large des patients.
Sur le plan financier, CARGO a rapporté un montant préliminaire de liquidités, d'équivalents de liquidités et de titres négociables de 368,1 millions de dollars au 31 décembre 2024, ce qui devrait soutenir ses opérations jusqu'en 2026. Gina Chapman, présidente et CEO, a souligné les progrès et le potentiel futur de l'entreprise lors de la 43e Conférence Annuelle J.P. Morgan Healthcare.
CARGO Therapeutics hat ein Unternehmensupdate bereitgestellt und die erwarteten Meilensteine für 2025 umrissen. Zum 31. Dezember 2024 wurden 71 Patienten in der potenziell entscheidenden Phase-2-Studie zu firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel) behandelt. Die Ergebnisse der Zwischenanalyse werden in der ersten Hälfte von 2025 erwartet. Die FDA hat den IND-Antrag für CRG-023, CARGOs trispezifische CAR-T-Zelltherapie, genehmigt, und die Einschreibung für die Phase-1-Studie soll Mitte 2025 beginnen. Darüber hinaus hat CARGO eine neuartige allogene Plattform angekündigt, die entwickelt wurde, um immunvermittelte Abstoßung bei CAR-T-Zelltherapien zu begrenzen. Diese Plattform soll autologe CAR-T-Zelltherapien in allogene Produkte umwandeln, um einen breiteren Nutzen für die Patienten zu bieten.
Finanziell berichtete CARGO zum 31. Dezember 2024 über vorläufige Mittel in Höhe von 368,1 Millionen Dollar in bar, in Baräquivalenten und in marktfähigen Wertpapieren, die voraussichtlich die Betriebsabläufe bis 2026 finanzieren werden. Gina Chapman, Präsidentin und CEO, betonte den Fortschritt und das zukünftige Potenzial des Unternehmens auf der 43. jährlichen J.P. Morgan Healthcare-Konferenz.
- 71 patients dosed in Phase 2 clinical study of firi-cel.
- IND application for CRG-023 cleared by FDA; Phase 1 enrollment expected mid-2025.
- Announcement of a novel allogeneic platform for CAR T-cell therapy.
- Preliminary cash and equivalents of $368.1 million, sufficient to fund operations through 2026.
- None.
Insights
The clinical progress and platform developments announced by CARGO Therapeutics represent substantial milestones. The 71 patients dosed in the Phase 2 FIRCE-1 trial of firi-cel positions the company for a important interim analysis in 1H'25. This data readout could potentially validate their lead asset and impact the company's
The FDA clearance of CRG-023's IND is particularly noteworthy. This tri-specific CAR-T targeting CD19, CD20 and CD22 with distinct co-stimulatory domains represents an innovative approach to combat B-cell malignancy resistance mechanisms. The rapid 12-month development timeline from construct to IND demonstrates strong operational execution.
The newly announced allogeneic platform could be transformative for the CAR-T field. Current allogeneic approaches face significant challenges with durability and rejection. CARGO's universal vector design, if successful, could solve the fundamental limitations of both autologous (manufacturing constraints, patient T-cell quality) and allogeneic (immune rejection, GvHD) approaches.
The
The manufacturing partnerships with National Resilience and ElevateBio are strategically important, providing scalable production capabilities important for commercial success in cell therapy. The suspension culture process for CRG-023's viral vector production indicates favorable manufacturing economics at commercial scale.
The allogeneic platform represents significant potential value creation, as off-the-shelf CAR-T products could dramatically expand the addressable market while improving margins through simplified manufacturing and logistics. The ability to leverage existing autologous processes could accelerate development timelines and reduce technical risk.
- 71 patients dosed in the potentially pivotal Phase 2 clinical study of firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel); Interim analysis results expected to be reported in 1H’25 -
- IND application for CRG-023, CARGO’s tri-specific CAR T, cleared by the FDA; Phase 1 study enrollment expected to initiate mid-year 2025 -
- CARGO announces novel allogeneic platform based on a universal allogeneic-enabling vector intended to be paired with any new or existing CAR vector to create an allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy while leveraging existing autologous drug product processes -
SAN CARLOS, Calif., Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRGX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company positioned to advance next-generation, potentially curative cell therapies for cancer patients, today provided a corporate update and anticipated milestones for 2025.
“2024 highlighted our excellence in execution and innovation. We now have three programs – two clinical-stage with another advancing quickly – all driven by our strong capabilities designing, developing, and delivering next-generation, and potentially curative cell therapies,” said Gina Chapman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CARGO. “We are on track to report our interim analysis results for FIRCE-1 in first half 2025. I am also delighted to announce the clearance of our IND for CRG-023, a potentially best-in-class CAR T-cell therapy with Phase 1 enrollment to initiate mid-year. Rapid progression of CRG-023 from lead construct to IND submission in less than 12 months was enabled by our robust CMC and pre-clinical development capabilities. Finally, I’m very excited to announce our novel allogeneic platform, which I believe can meaningfully improve the availability of potentially curative cell therapies for patients by realizing the promise of an allogeneic solution in a universally applicable way. I’d like to thank the entire CARGO organization for their tenacity and innovative spirit, positioning us for our important milestones this year.”
“The challenges that limit a broader impact for autologous cell therapy include the quality of T cells derived from sick patients and availability of product. For allogeneic cell therapy, durable efficacy has been difficult to achieve,” said Michael Ports, Chief Scientific Officer of CARGO. “Over the past three years, we set out to solve these limitations through sophisticated cell therapy design and engineering, starting with CRG-023 and now with our novel allogenic platform that is intended to address immune-based rejection of allogeneic CAR T. The allogeneic CAR T platform is comprised of a universal vector with multiple transgene “cargo” to limit T and NK rejection and downregulate TCR. Importantly, the vector can be paired with pre-existing CAR vectors across targets and indications and can leverage existing autologous drug product processes. We are encouraged by our preclinical results which suggest the potential of a universal approach to creating off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR T products to provide more life-saving therapies for patients.”
Corporate Update and Anticipated Milestones for 2025:
Firi-cel:
- As of December 31, 2024, 71 patients have been dosed in the potentially pivotal Phase 2 study of firi-cel, FIRCE-1.
- CARGO continues to achieve strong manufacturing success of firi-cel. The Company is partnering with National Resilience, Inc. and ElevateBio to manufacture drug product for the FIRCE-1 study.
- CARGO expects to share topline data from an interim analysis for a meaningful patient sample size with at least 3 months of follow-up in 1H’25.
CRG-023:
- In January, the FDA cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for CRG-023, CARGO’s novel tri-specific CAR T that is designed to address several known causes of relapse, resulting in a potential best-in-class CAR T-cell therapy across a broad range of B-cell malignancies with the goal of providing more patients with a durable complete response. CRG-023 is a first-of-its-kind CAR T to express three independent CARs (CD19, CD20, CD22) from a single vector, with each CAR having a distinct co-stimulatory domain. CRG-023 lentiviral vector is produced using suspension culture process which provides a line of sight to commercially suitable expression level. CRG-023 drug product is produced leveraging CARGO’s internally developed process and analytical methods.
- Given the encouraging pre-clinical data of CRG-023, CARGO intends to demonstrate the product candidate’s best-in-class potential through a Phase 1 dose escalation study in 3L+ LBCL including CAR T-naïve patients. The Company plans to leverage proof-of-concept data to support moving quickly into earlier lines of therapy and additional indications in B-cell malignancies for CRG-023.
- The Phase 1, open-label, multi-center, dose escalation and dose expansion study is expected to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of CRG-023 and to establish the recommended Phase 2 dose of CRG-023. Dose escalation will begin at a dose level of 25 million cells, which was informed by preclinical data that demonstrated in vivo tumor clearance at low dose levels. Enrollment for the Phase 1 study, including CAR T-naïve patients, is expected to initiate mid-year 2025. CARGO plans to leverage its established manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure to accelerate readiness for its Phase 1 study.
Novel Allogeneic Platform:
- CARGO’s novel allogeneic platform is a universal vector solution designed to limit immune-based rejection and enable durable response of CAR T-cell therapy. Through sophisticated engineering, the differentiated platform aims to transform potentially curative autologous CAR T-cell therapies into allogeneic products for broader patient benefit. The universal, allogeneic-enabling vector is intended to pair with new or clinically established CAR vectors, which can be accomplished while leveraging existing autologous drug product processes. The result is intended to be an off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR T product designed to limit rejection, promote safety, improve the starting quality of T cells, and maintain comparable CAR-mediated activity.
- To date, CARGO has advanced several lead allogeneic constructs and demonstrated proof of concept in limiting immune rejection, preventing graft vs. host disease (GvHD), and preserving comparable CAR activity when co-transduced with CAR vector utilized for autologous CAR T-cell therapy.
- CARGO expects to select the lead vector candidate in 1H’25.
Financial Outlook:
- As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s preliminary cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were
$368.1 million (1), which we believe will be sufficient to fund our expected operations through 2026.
Gina Chapman, President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, January 13, at 10:30 a.m. PT. Interested parties can access the live webcast for the presentation in the Investors section of CARGO’s website under News & Events. A replay of the webcast will be available after the conclusion of the live presentation for approximately 30 days.
About CARGO Therapeutics
CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company positioned to advance next-generation, best-in-class, and potentially curative cell therapies for cancer patients. CARGO’s programs, platform technologies, and manufacturing strategy are designed to directly address the limitations of approved cell therapies, including limited durability of effect, safety concerns and availability. CARGO has a growing and focused pipeline that includes firicabtagene autoleucel (firi-cel), an autologous CD22 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy candidate currently in a potentially pivotal Phase 2 clinical study in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) whose disease relapsed or was refractory (R/R) to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. CARGO is also preparing to initiate a Phase 1 study for its CRG-023 product candidate, a CD19/CD20/CD22 tri-specific CAR T developed using a tri-cistronic construct and designed to address several known causes of relapse, resulting in a potential best-in-class CAR T-cell therapy across a broad range of B-cell malignancies with the goal of providing more patients with a durable complete response. CARGO’s latest program advancement, a novel allogeneic platform, is a universal vector solution designed to limit immune-based rejection and enable durable response of CAR T-cell therapy. The universal allogeneic-enabling vector is intended to be paired with any CAR vector to create an allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy, with the potential to maintain the efficacy, durability, and safety of autologous cell therapy while broadening availability to more people with cancer. CARGO’s leadership and team have significant experience in designing, developing and delivering oncology and cell therapy products. For more information, please visit the CARGO Therapeutics website at https://cargo-tx.com/.
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(1) The Company’s actual consolidated cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities as of December 31, 2024 may differ from this preliminary estimate due to the completion of the Company’s year-end closing and auditing procedures.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress, advancement, and results of CARGO’s clinical and preclinical programs; the potential benefits of CARGO’s product candidates; the timing of data reports, including the release of interim data from CARGO’s ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of firi-cel; CARGO’s strategic plans for its business and product candidates; CARGO’s estimated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2024 and CARGO’s expectations that its current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its expected operations through 2026. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the company’s ability to obtain necessary capital to fund its clinical programs; the early stages of clinical development of the company’s product candidates and the product candidates involving novel technologies; clinical and preclinical development being a lengthy and expensive process with uncertain outcomes; data from the company’s clinical trials and preclinical studies, including the performance and characteristics of the company’s product candidates, including any undesirable side effects or other properties discovered or detected in the company’s clinical trials and preclinical studies; any favorable data from trials conducted by third-parties, including Stanford University or the NCI, may not be replicated in the company’s clinical trials or predictive of future results; the company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval of and successfully commercialize its product candidates; the company’s reliance on third-party suppliers and manufacturers, including CROs; the outcomes of any future collaboration agreements; and the company’s ability to adequately maintain intellectual property rights for its product candidates. For a detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to CARGO’s business in general, please refer to the risk factors identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including but not limited to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 filed on November 12, 2024. Any forward-looking statements that the company makes in this press release are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Denise Powell
denise@redhousecomms.com
Investor Contact:
Jessica Serra
jserra@cargo-tx.com
Laurence Watts
laurence@newstreetir.com
FAQ
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