Cabaletta Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: CABA) has announced encouraging clinical updates for its lead candidate, CABA-201, a targeted cell therapy for autoimmune diseases. The data, presented at the ACR Convergence 2024 conference, highlight the potential of CABA-201 to provide clinical responses without the need for immunosuppressants in patients with myositis, lupus, and scleroderma.
Clinical Trial Progress
As of November 12, 2024, the RESET™ clinical development program has enrolled 16 patients, with 10 having received a dose of CABA-201. The trials are actively recruiting patients across 40 clinical sites in the U.S. Cabaletta Bio is also expanding its clinical development into Europe, having received authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for the RESET-SLE trial.
CABA-201: A Novel Approach to Autoimmune Disease
CABA-201 is an autologous, engineered T cell therapy designed with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that targets CD19, a protein expressed on B cells. By selectively depleting B cells, which contribute to the initiation and maintenance of autoimmune diseases, CABA-201 aims to reset the immune system and provide lasting clinical benefits. The therapy incorporates a 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain to enhance T cell activation and persistence.
Rheumatology Portfolio Updates
- Myositis (Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies, IIM): The RESET-Myositis trial is ongoing, with additional clinical and translational data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): The RESET-SLE trial has been authorized by the EMA, allowing Cabaletta to activate clinical trial sites in Europe and enroll patients. Clinical data were presented at ACR Convergence 2024.
- Systemic Sclerosis (SSc): Patient enrollment in the RESET-SSc trial is ongoing, with initial clinical data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.
Expansion into Neurology and Dermatology
Cabaletta Bio is also advancing CABA-201 in other autoimmune indications:
- Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG): The RESET-MG™ trial is ongoing, with initial clinical data expected in the first half of 2025.
- Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV): The RESET-PV™ trial is evaluating CABA-201 as a monotherapy without preconditioning in patients with mucosal PV (mPV) and mucocutaneous PV (mcPV).
Financial Position
As of September 30, 2024, Cabaletta Bio reported cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaling $183.0 million. The company anticipates that these funds will support operations into the first half of 2026.
Management Commentary
"Focused clinical execution has resulted in 40 U.S. clinical sites actively recruiting patients for the RESET clinical trial program for CABA-201," said Steven Nichtberger, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Cabaletta. "We are encouraged by the accelerating pace of enrollment and, data permitting, anticipate meeting with the FDA next year regarding registrational program designs for CABA-201."
