Verismo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage CAR T company, has announced a strategic partnership with Miltenyi Biotec to advance its novel KIR-CAR platform technology. The collaboration has achieved a significant milestone with the successful manufacture of the first clinical cell product using lentiviral vector supplied by Miltenyi Bioindustry for the STAR-101 Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating SynKIR™-110 targeting mesothelin for solid tumor treatment.
Manufacturing Milestone Achieved
The partnership represents a critical advancement in Verismo's clinical development program. The batch produced for STAR-101 marks the first successful manufacture of Verismo's clinical cell product using Miltenyi's commercial-ready lentiviral vector system. This achievement lays the groundwork for later-stage development of SynKIR™-110 and establishes manufacturing continuity for future clinical phases.
"Our collaboration with Miltenyi Bioindustry plays a key role as we scale our programs," said Dr. Bryan Kim, CEO of Verismo Therapeutics. "This partnership reflects Verismo's commitment to ensuring manufacturing continuity and Phase 2 clinical readiness."
Strategic Supply Chain Partnership
The collaboration with Miltenyi Bioindustry, a dedicated CDMO division of Miltenyi Biotec, ensures a reliable supply chain for Verismo's clinical programs. Miltenyi Bioindustry specializes in translating gene-edited cell therapy products into clinical applications, including design, construction, and production of lentiviral vectors from research through GMP manufacturing.
Stefan Miltenyi, founder and CEO at Miltenyi Biotec, emphasized the partnership's significance: "We're proud to continue supporting Verismo's efforts with our viral vector platform. Their work in next-generation CAR T therapies reflects the innovation we strive to enable."
Novel KIR-CAR Platform Technology
Verismo Therapeutics is pioneering the development of multi-chain KIR-CAR technology, positioning itself as the only company developing this platform. The KIR-CAR system uses a modified NK cell-derived receptor and DAP12 pairing, specifically designed to improve T cell functional persistence and reduce exhaustion, resulting in improved efficacy against challenging tumors.
The platform addresses areas of high unmet medical need, including advanced solid tumors and B cell associated disorders and malignancies. According to the company, the KIR-CAR platform has demonstrated highly effective prolonged solid tumor treatment in CAR-resistant preclinical animal models with challenging tumor microenvironments.
Clinical Pipeline Progress
Verismo currently has two assets in Phase 1 clinical trials: SynKIR™-110 (NCT05568680) and SynKIR™-310 (NCT06544265). The KIR-CAR platform utilizes NK cell derived KIR and DAP12 split signaling, providing novel paired activation and co-stimulation separate from usual T cell stimulation pathways.
This approach enables sustained chimeric receptor expression with improved long-term CAR T cell function and decreased T cell exhaustion. The result is CAR T cell resistance to tumor immunosuppression, prolonged functional persistence, and improved tumor elimination, potentially enhancing CAR T treatment effectiveness in both solid and hematologic tumors.
Preparation for Commercial Scale
The partnership positions Verismo for Phase 2 development and beyond, including preparation for commercial applications. Miltenyi Biotec's expertise in patient-specific cell and gene therapies, combined with over 35 years of experience in biomedical discoveries and clinical applications, provides Verismo with the infrastructure needed for scaling its innovative platform technology.
