Samik Basu – VJRegenMed

DSG3-CAART: A novel CAAR T-cell therapy in pemphigus vulgaris

Simon Ng — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:00:59 +0000

Samik Basu, MD, Cabaletta Bio, Philadelphia, PA, talks on the differences between chimeric autoantibody receptor (CAAR) T-cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. Unlike CD19-targeted CAR T-cells which target and kill all CD19-positive B-cells, CAAR T-cells selectively eliminate memory B-cells that give rise to plasma cells generating autoantibodies. Whilst the intracellular portion of CAAR T-cells and CAR T-cells are similar, the extracellular portion of the CAAR T-cell contains a portion of the protein targeted by the autoantibody. Dr Basu additionally outlines the design and early results of the Phase I, dose-escalation DesCAARTes trial (NCT04422912) investigating the maximum tolerated dose of DSG3-CAART, an autologous desmoglein 3 (DSG3) CAAR T-cell, in patients with mucosal-dominant pemphigus vulgaris (mPV). DSG3-CAART appears safe and a dose-dependent increase in CAAR T-cell persistence was observed within the first 29 days after infusion. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

The advantages of the CABA™ platform for treating B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases

Simon Ng — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:00:58 +0000

Samik Basu, MD, Cabaletta Bio, Philadelphia, PA, comments on the benefits of the Cabaletta Approach to selective B cell Ablation (CABA) platform over standard of care treatments for B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as rituximab or steroids, which result in broad immunosuppression which may be dangerous for patients. The CABA platform selectively eliminates specific autoantibody-producing B cells, minimizing adverse events and avoiding immunosuppression. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Future developments in targeted cell therapies for autoimmune diseases

Simon Ng — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 17:03:32 +0000

Samik Basu, MD, Cabaletta Bio, Philadelphia, PA, provides a brief overview of cell therapies under development at Cabaletta Bio for various autoimmune diseases, including muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) myasthenia gravis, and mucosal and mucocutaneous pemphigus vulgaris. Cell therapies for progressive membranous nephropathy, mediated by PLA2R-positive antibodies, are additionally under investigation. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.