The method has the potential to transform traditional cell therapy, where immune cells are typically removed, modified outside the body, and then reintroduced into the patient – a process that typically takes several weeks. With EsoBiotecs ENaBL-platform, this reprogramming is instead done directly in the body. Via an intravenous injection, genetic instructions are delivered to T cells, which then attack tumor cells or autoreactive cells.
By engineering immune cells directly into the body, the method has the potential to address many of the problems with current cell therapies, reduce complexity and manufacturing time, and make treatments more accessible. This could allow a cell therapy treatment to be administered in minutes, compared to traditional administration that takes weeks.
Promising initial efficacy data
EsoBiotec recently initiated an investigator-initiated clinical study with the lead candidate ESO-T01 in refractory multiple myeloma, where the safety, tolerability and early efficacy of a single intravenous dose are being tested in 24 patients. So far, promising effects have been seen.
– The first patient received a starting dose of ESO-T01 without prior lymphodepletion. By Day 28, minimal residual disease in the bone marrow was undetectable, and the elevated free light chain levels secreted by tumor cells had normalized. No significant adverse events were reported during treatment, comments the principal investigator Professor Heng MEI at Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
Strengthening in cell therapies
The deal means that AstraZeneca will pay an initial payment of USD 425 million, with up to USD 575 million in additional milestone payments linked to progress in development and commercialization. EsoBiotec will become a wholly owned subsidiary with continued operations in Belgium, and the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
The acquisition complements previous investments and by integrating EsoBiotec's in vivo technology into its pipeline – which already includes CAR-T, TCR-T and regulatory T cells – AstraZeneca strengthens its position in the field.
- We are excited about the acquisition of EsoBiotec and the opportunity to rapidly advance their promising in vivo platform, says Susan Galbraith, who is Executive Vice President, Oncology Hematology R&D, at AstraZeneca. We believe it has the potential to transform cell therapy and will enable us to scale these innovative treatments so that many more patients around the world can access them. EsoBiotec will accelerate and expand the impact of our recent investments and marks a major step forward in realizing our ambition to harness the full potential of cell therapy.