Eureka's ARTEMIS CAR T Cells Demonstrate 16-Fold Superior Tumor Infiltration in Neuroblastoma Study
Key Insights
Eureka Therapeutics (search)' ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells achieved 54% tumor infiltration compared to just 3% for conventional CAR T cells in neuroblastoma (search) models, representing a 16-fold improvement.
The NCI-led study published in Cell Reports Medicine showed ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells achieved 100% survival at week 7 in low-antigen neuroblastoma (search) models versus 50% for conventional CAR T cells.
ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells demonstrated enhanced persistence and sustained function in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments through dual receptor architecture that engages natural T cell signaling pathways.
Eureka Therapeutics (search) announced breakthrough preclinical results for its ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cell platform, demonstrating significant superiority over conventional CAR T cells in treating neuroblastoma (search), a high-risk pediatric solid tumor. The findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), represent the first head-to-head comparison between ARTEMIS and conventional CAR T cells in solid tumors.
Superior Tumor Penetration and Efficacy
The study revealed dramatic differences in tumor infiltration capabilities between the two approaches. ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells comprised 54% of T cells within tumors, compared to just 3% for conventional CAR T cells—a 16-fold increase that highlights their superior ability to penetrate solid tumors.
In neuroblastoma (search) mouse models with low GPC2 (search) antigen expression, ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells achieved complete tumor regression and 100% survival at week 7. Conventional CAR T cells using the same antigen binder achieved only 50% survival, demonstrating the platform's enhanced efficacy in challenging low-antigen-density environments.
Enhanced Persistence and Function
ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells exhibited sustained presence and a greater proportion of cells with stem cell-like memory properties, suggesting improved durability and prolonged anti-tumor effects. The cells remained active and functional in immunosuppressive, low-antigen environments where conventional CAR T cells typically lose potency.
"This NCI-led study represents an important milestone for the entire field of cell therapy," said Dr. Cheng Liu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eureka Therapeutics (search). "For the first time, we see clear evidence that restoring the T cell's natural biology can overcome the long-standing barriers that have limited CAR T success in solid tumors."
Novel Dual Receptor Architecture
Unlike conventional CAR T cells that rely on a synthetically fused CD3 zeta (search) signaling domain linked to co-stimulatory molecules, which can cause continuous activation and T cell exhaustion, ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells were engineered with a dual receptor architecture that engages the full natural signaling pathway of T cells.
This next-generation design preserves the precision of conventional CAR targeting while restoring the balanced and sustained activation of natural T cells. By engaging the complete signaling network, ARTEMIS CAR T (search) cells reduce exhaustion, enhance persistence, and remain active in hostile tumor microenvironments.
Clinical Development and Future Applications
The ARTEMIS CAR T (search) platform is currently being evaluated in ongoing U.S. clinical trials for advanced liver cancer (search) and for high-risk B-cell lymphoma (search) patients for whom currently approved conventional CAR T therapies may not be suitable. The company has two ARTEMIS-based clinical programs, ET140203 (ARYA2) and ECT204 (ARYA3), in Phase I/II U.S. trials in patients with advanced liver cancer.
Building on these results, Eureka, in collaboration with the NCI, is advancing the ARTEMIS CAR T (search) platform into additional solid tumor types, including pancreatic, mesothelioma (search), ovarian, breast, glioblastoma (search), and lung cancers. This expansion aims to bring the durable responses achieved with CAR T therapies in blood cancers to solid tumors, which account for over 90% of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
The findings position Eureka's ARTEMIS platform to extend the reach of CAR T therapy beyond blood cancers to solid tumors, addressing one of the greatest challenges in oncology where conventional CAR T cells have struggled to show consistent success.