CARGO Therapeutics Welcomes Dr. Michael Ports as Chief Scientific Officer, Pioneering the Future of Cell Therapy for Cancer”
Dr. Michael Ports, a trailblazing leader in the field of cell therapy with a successful track record in advancing novel treatments, has joined CARGO Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in cutting-edge cell therapies for cancer patients. In his role as Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Ports will spearhead the advancement of CARGO’s innovative platform technologies and pioneering research programs.
Gina Chapman, President, and CEO of CARGO Therapeutics, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “We’re thrilled to have Michael, a distinguished figure in the world of cell therapy, join us as our Chief Scientific Officer. His profound expertise and visionary leadership will undoubtedly catalyze our research and development efforts. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with Michael to propel our platform technologies and pipeline programs into clinical trials, all in pursuit of delivering more transformative cures to patients.”
Dr. Ports also shared his excitement, stating, “I’m honored to be part of the remarkable team at CARGO, driven by their unwavering commitment to scientific excellence and their bold vision. Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a passion for developing groundbreaking therapeutics that can significantly enhance patient outcomes. I’m deeply committed to bringing novel cell therapies to the forefront of medical advancement and am enthusiastic about contributing to CARGO’s vital mission of delivering innovative CAR T-cell therapies to patients.”
Before joining CARGO, Dr. Ports served as Vice President and Head of Cell Therapy Discovery at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, where he strategically led teams in advancing both autologous and allogeneic cell therapy development candidates.
His impressive journey in the field included pivotal roles at Juno Therapeutics (acquired by Celgene Corporation) and Celgene (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb), where he played a pivotal role in driving preclinical efforts that paved the way for investigational new drug (IND) applications, particularly in multiple myeloma with the anti-BCMA CAR T, JCARH125, and the anti-CD19 CAR T, Breyanzi®, which earned approval in the United States and the European Union for treating specific lymphomas.
Dr. Ports commenced his career in the industry at Gilead Sciences, where he explored the use of Zydelig® and other small molecules in the realm of immuno-oncology for solid tumors.
Dr. Ports has an illustrious academic background, having completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He earned his PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Arizona and holds a BS in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
About CARGO Therapeutics
CARGO Therapeutics: Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment with Next-Gen Cell Therapies
CARGO Therapeutics is not just another biotech company; it’s a pioneering force in the field of cancer treatment. Positioned at the forefront of innovation, CARGO is dedicated to crafting groundbreaking cell therapies that have the potential to offer lasting cures to cancer patients. Their programs, cutting-edge platform technologies, and innovative manufacturing approach directly confront the limitations associated with existing cell therapies. These limitations include short-lived effects, safety concerns, and unpredictable supply.
At the heart of their mission is CRG-022, CARGO’s lead program—a revolutionary autologous CD22 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy candidate. CRG-022 is currently undergoing evaluation in a potentially pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial. It targets patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who have either experienced disease relapse or failed to respond to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. But that’s not all. CARGO’s ambitions extend to early-stage disease treatment, encompassing LBCL and various hematologic malignancies.
What sets CARGO apart is their exceptional cell engineering platform. This proprietary technology serves as the foundation for an exciting pipeline of programs. These programs are designed to deliver multiple therapeutic “cargo” genes, enhancing CAR T-cell longevity, improving tumor targeting, and fortifying against tumor resistance and T-cell exhaustion.
Behind the scenes, CARGO boasts a team of true industry pioneers and world-class CAR T-cell therapy experts. Their collective experience spans the full spectrum of oncology and cell therapy, from development and manufacturing to launch and commercialization.
In essence, CARGO Therapeutics isn’t just advancing medicine; they’re rewriting the narrative of cancer treatment itself.