Cartherics Pty Ltd, a biotechnology company that is revolutionizing the way cancer is treated with its innovative immune cell therapies, has just granted Shunxi Holding Group Co Ltd an exclusive licence to develop, manufacture and commercialise their autologous CAR-T cell product, CTH-004, for the treatment of multiple solid tumours including ovarian cancer in Greater China. This is a major milestone in the fight against cancer and Cartherics is proud to be leading the charge!
CTH-004, a promising new treatment for ovarian cancer, is set to be evaluated in a clinical trial in collaboration with the prestigious Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. This research and development collaboration was announced earlier this year, and preliminary animal studies have already shown positive results. With any luck, this innovative new treatment could revolutionize the way we treat ovarian cancer.
In 2020, the global burden of ovarian cancer was staggering, with a total of 314,000 new cases and 207,000 deaths. In China, the situation is even more alarming; a study has revealed that the burden of ovarian cancer has increased significantly in the last 30 years and continues to rise at an accelerated rate. This trend is projected to worsen in the next decade, with the burden of ovarian cancer in China rising at a higher rate than the global level.
The burden of ovarian cancer is a reality for countless women around the world, but Cartherics CEO, Alan Trounson AO, is hopeful that a new therapy currently being trialled in China will provide a much-needed treatment option.
“We are excited to see the potential effectiveness of this therapy being tested in China,” said Trounson, “and we hope this will bring relief to women everywhere who are suffering from ovarian cancer.”
Chairman of Shunxi Holding Group, Mr Xia Jie, is confident that the CAR-T cell product co-developed by Cartherics and Shunxi will open up new possibilities for treating recurrent ovarian cancer, a disease notorious for its high rates of recurrence and resistance to traditional treatments.
Shunxi Holding Group has been granted a licence to develop, manufacture and commercialise CTH-004 in Greater China, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The agreement also includes an option to negotiate rights to other CAR-T products that incorporate the licenced IP. This exciting partnership involves a licence fee, milestone payments and royalties, offering Shunxi Holding Group a unique opportunity to expand its CAR-T portfolio.
Cartherics and Shunxi have joined forces to bring CTH-004 to the Chinese market, with Dr. Shu Runzhe, Cartherics’ Deputy CSO, leading the pre-clinical and clinical development. The two companies will share pre-clinical and clinical data on CTH-004, while Cartherics retains all development and commercialisation rights for the product outside the Greater China region. This collaboration is sure to bring exciting developments in the field of medicine.
About Cartherics
At Cartherics, we are revolutionizing the way cancer is treated. Our cutting-edge biotechnology company is based in Melbourne, Australia, and we are rearming the body’s immune system to fight cancer with our innovative cell-based immunotherapies. Our portfolio of CAR-T and CAR-NK cell products are based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from donated cord blood.
We have engineered these cells to provide enhanced function for the derived NK and other immune cells, producing a powerful “off-the-shelf” cell platform that is transforming the fight against cancer.
CTH-004 is our groundbreaking autologous CAR-T cell therapy – a personalized treatment that harnesses the power of a patient’s own immune system T cells to fight their cancer. Genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that targets a marker (TAG-72) found on ovarian cancer cells, CTH-004 is further enhanced by the deletion of genes which suppress T cell function.
About Shunxi Holding Group
Shunxi Holding Group is a leading group company based in Shanghai, China, dedicated to improving the quality of life for every Chinese citizen. Through its investment in medical services and innovative drug development, the Group has made great strides in the Regenerative Medicine sector, having established the largest stem cell bank in southwest China and leading the industry in mesenchymal stem cell clinical translation research in China.
Not only that, its Medical Service sector provides high-quality and efficient medical services to millions of Chinese people every year through health examinations and third-party medical testing.