
Elicera’s CEO: “All signs of the disease disappeared in the first patient”
The first patient has been treated in Elicera Therapeutics’ CARMA study and the results are highly promising. After one month of follow-up, the patient achieved a complete response with very mild side effects. The data was presented at the scientific conference Cancer Crosslinks on January 23. BioStock spoke with CEO Jamal el-Mosleh to get his thoughts.
Elicera Therapeutics develops treatments based on oncolytic viruses and CAR T cells. Through the company’s immune-enhancing and commercially available technology platform, iTANK (immunotherapies Activated with NAP for efficient Killing), the company’s candidates are armed with immune-activating properties to enhance their efficacy and activate a parallel immune response against cancer, resulting in a dual attack on tumour cells.
Promising results in early phase
The company recently announced progress in the CARMA study, which aims to determine the optimal dose of the CAR T-cell therapy ELC-301, armed with iTANK, in patients who have received at least two prior standard therapies and are now without curative treatment options. The first patient, treated with the lowest dose level, showed a complete response (tumour-free) at the first follow-up one month after treatment, without serious side effects. The data was presented at the scientific conference Cancer Crosslinks by the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Magnus Essand.
Step by step towards phase IIa
Two more patients in cohort 1 will be treated with the lowest dose level in the CARMA study. After this, the dose will be escalated in cohort 2 with three patients, ultimately reaching the planned optimal treatment dose in cohort 3 with six patients. Provided that no severe dose-limiting side effects are observed, the study will transition into a phase IIa part, which will include an additional six patients. A total of 18 patients are planned to be treated in the phase I/IIa CARMA study.
Further results from each dosing group in the CARMA study are expected to be presented at scientific conferences during 2025 and 2026.
CEO comments
BioStock spoke with CEO Jamal el-Mosleh to gain deeper insight into the significance of the first results from the CARMA study.

Jamal, what does it signify that the first patient has achieved a complete response?
– A complete response means that all signs of the disease have disappeared based on the measurements conducted in the study. This is a fantastic clinical outcome, indicating that our iTANK-armed ELC-301 treatment has had a very powerful effect on the cancer cells. For the patient, it represents a tremendous improvement; for us as developers, it is a significant milestone that strengthens our confidence in the technology and its potential.
Were you surprised by the outcome, or did it align with your expectations?
-We are, of course, very pleased with the results, and they align with our hopes, at least regarding the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapies in B-cell lymphoma. However, it’s perhaps not entirely expected to see a complete tumour response already at these low doses, given that the anticipated maximum dose is ten times higher. We know that every patient is unique, with different treatment histories, and we look forward to including more patients to build a broader dataset and see if these promising results can be replicated on a larger scale. Naturally, we cannot draw definitive conclusions based on just one patient, but the study has started on a very promising note.
Complete response after just one month is impressive. Do you plan to conduct additional or longer follow-ups to study the long-term effects?
– Absolutely. We have an extensive follow-up plan to carefully study the treatment’s short- and long-term effects. During the first year, we will conduct a total of five follow-ups to monitor the patients’ progress and collect vital data on efficacy and safety. Additionally, there will be further planned follow-ups after 18 months and 24 months to gain a clearer picture of the treatment’s durability and effects.
Beyond this, we will perform long-term follow-ups for up to 15 years to better understand how the treatment impacts patients over the long term.
What were your goals with presenting these results at Cancer Crosslinks in Oslo, and how important are these types of conferences for strengthening Elicera’s position?
– Presenting at Cancer Crosslinks in Oslo was a strategic opportunity to showcase the CARMA study and highlight our iTANK platform to both the scientific community and the industry. We aimed to achieve several objectives with this. Cancer Crosslinks is a leading scientific conference where international experts in cancer research and treatment gather. By presenting our results, we positioned Elicera as an innovative player in immuno-oncology, strengthening our credibility among researchers, clinicians, and potential partners.
– While Magnus Essand presented the CARMA study and iTANK platform at Cancer Crosslinks, the study’s principal investigator also gave a presentation at the annual meeting of the Swedish Lymphoma Group. This presentation aimed to promote the study to lymphoma physicians in Sweden. By reaching out to key stake holders in healthcare, we hope to accelerate and streamline patient recruitment for the CARMA study. Scientific conferences are not just about presenting data – they also serve as meeting points to establish connections with other players in the industry and research community.
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