Caribou's "Off-the-Shelf" Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Early Lymphoma Trial

Caribou Biosciences has reported encouraging results from an early-stage trial of its allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy, potentially signaling a breakthrough in the development of "off-the-shelf" cancer treatments. The company's vispacabtagene regedleucel (vispa-cel) demonstrated efficacy comparable to personalized therapies in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, while offering logistical advantages and improved safety profiles.

Trial Results Rival Autologous Therapies

In the phase 1/2 Antler study, vispa-cel induced responses in more than 80% of enrolled patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The therapy's performance was particularly noteworthy in two cohorts:

• In patients with four or more matched human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), 82% responded to treatment, with 64% achieving complete remission.
• A second cohort receiving "optimized" CAR-T cells showed an 86% response rate, with 63% reaching complete remission.

These results approach the efficacy of Gilead's marketed autologous therapy, Yescarta, which demonstrated an 83% response rate and 65% complete remission rate in a similar patient population.

Enhanced Safety Profile and Outpatient Potential

Vispa-cel recipients experienced low rates of immunological and neurological side effects, a common concern with CAR-T therapies. This improved safety profile suggests the potential for outpatient administration, contrasting with the hospital stays often required for autologous treatments.

Dr. Mehdi Hamadani, a trial investigator and professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, stated, "This clinical dataset demonstrates vispa-cel's efficacy and durability are comparable to autologous CAR-T therapies, yet its off-the-shelf availability and favorable tolerability profile make it well suited for outpatient administration at both large academic centers and sophisticated community hospitals."

Strategic Implications for Caribou Biosciences

The positive trial results represent a potential turnaround for Caribou, which had previously faced setbacks in its cell therapy program. The company's refined strategy, focusing on HLA-matching to enhance treatment compatibility, appears to be yielding promising outcomes.

Caribou's shares responded positively to the news, with initial gains of up to 40% in Monday morning trading. The company plans to initiate a Phase 3 trial evaluating vispa-cel's impact on survival, with results expected in 2026.

These developments come at a crucial time for Caribou, which has undergone two rounds of staff reductions in the past two years to extend its cash reserves. The company has also chosen to focus on cancer cell therapy rather than pursuing autoimmune applications, diverging from some of its industry peers.