Arovella Therapeutics fortifies CAR-iNKT cell therapy platform with novel armouring cytokine technology

Arovella Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ALA) has executed a global, exclusive licence with University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNC Lineberger) to incorporate a novel armouring cytokine technology (IL-12-TM) into its CAR-iNKT cell therapy platform.  

This partnership leverages the pioneering work of Professor Gianpietro Dotti, a leading figure in CAR-iNKT development, and presents a compelling opportunity to equip the biotechnology company’s CAR-iNKT cells with a potent weapon in its solid tumour programs. 

Arovella will be the only iNKT cell company working with the technology.

Crucial role to play 

Published in the esteemed journal Nature Communications, IL-12-TM exhibits demonstrably amplified CAR-iNKT cell persistence and anti-tumour activity in pre-clinical animal models, including challenging solid tumour landscapes such as neuroblastoma.

This engineered variant of the human interleukin-12 cytokine empowers CAR-iNKT cells with increased durability and potency, potentially translating into superior clinical efficacy.

The exclusive licence agreement grants Arovella comprehensive rights to utilise IL-12-TM for its iNKT cell applications, secured by patent protection extending until at least 2043.

This licence has no immediate financial impact on the company nor any payable upfront fee. Future licensing fees will include annual licence maintenance fees, stage-gated, industry-standard development milestones for the first patient dosed in a pivotal clinical trial and marketing approval.  

The licence also includes a low single-digit royalty on future sales.

Exciting times ahead 

“We are incredibly excited to licence the IL-12-TM technology from Professor Dotti’s laboratory for use with our CAR-iNKT cell platform,” Arovella chief executive officer and managing director Michael Baker said.

“The data supporting solid tumours is compelling and will see Arovella enhance its solid tumour pipelines and effectiveness.”

Dotti, a research professor at UNC and director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Immunotherapy Program, added: “We have continued to make important advancements to use CAR-iNKT cells to treat various tumour types.  

“What we have discovered by engineering CAR-iNKT cells to generate IL-12-TM is unexpected.  

“We look forward to working with Arovella to test this exciting technology in clinical trials.” 

Investors have welcomed the licensing with Arovella shares 11.54% higher intra-day at $0.145.

Billion-dollar market  

Arovella’s CAR-iNKT cells are being developed as an off-the-shelf solution for cancer treatment.   

They have inherent properties that may make them amenable to targeting solid tumours such as:  

• the ability to infiltrate tissues and tumours;  
• the ability to block or kill cells that promote tumour survival such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs); and   
• the ability to release cytokines to stimulate an immune response and recruit other immune cells to target the tumour cells.  

Armouring CAR-iNKT cells is one of Arovella’s strategies to further enhance and differentiate its platform to tackle solid tumours. 

As well, IL-12-TM is expected to complement Arovella's CLDN18.2 program, recently licensed from Sparx Group, to target gastric cancers (GC), gastroesophageal junction cancers (GEJC), pancreatic cancers (PC), and other solid tumours that express CLDN18.2.

With the global market for gastric cancer projected to reach a staggering $10.7 billion by 2031, and pancreatic cancer claiming more than 466,000 lives annually, the potential impact of this collaboration is profound.