Singapore-based CytoMed Therapeutics has entered into a Business & Research Collaboration Agreement (BRCA) with SunAct Cancer Institute in India to advance the use of allogeneic gamma delta T cells in a Phase 2 clinical trial. The collaboration aims to explore the therapy’s safety and efficacy in treating solid cancers, potentially providing an affordable treatment option for cancer patients in India, while contributing to global cancer research data.
Trial Details and Objectives
The Phase 2 investigator-initiated trial will be jointly sponsored by CytoMed and SunAct. It will be led by Prof Dr Vijay Patil, a medical oncologist and immunotherapy specialist in India and the founder of SunAct. The study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, potency, and efficacy of CytoMed’s proprietary allogeneic gamma delta T cells in treating various cancers, including solid tumors.
Dr. Vijay Patil stated, "Initiating this research and undertaking the accelerated Clinical Trial in the form of a combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 Clinical Trial targets not just the safety and efficacy of the therapeutic application and intervention of allogeneic gamma delta T Cells in the treatment of solid cancers but also expedites the gathering of information and data on the initial safety, preliminary efficacy and optimal dosing. We expect to identify the types of cancers the therapy will work for, including the side effects of the same if any and how we might manage them."
Responsibilities and Contributions
Under the BRCA, CytoMed will provide scientific and technical assistance in the planning and conduct of the clinical trial and will be responsible for manufacturing the allogeneic gamma delta T cells as the investigational product. SunAct will leverage its in-country relationships, familiarity with local laws and regulations, and access to healthcare personnel, institutions, and the patient population in India.
Strategic Alignment and Market Opportunity
CytoMed’s Chairman, Peter Choo, noted, "CytoMed’s collaboration with SunAct is timely and complements our core focus of harnessing CytoMed’s proprietary off-the-shelf technologies to develop novel donor-derived cell-based allogeneic immunotherapies for the treatment of various cancers at affordable cost. We are aligned with the foresight of our partner SunAct to provide affordable no-option cancer therapeutics that could improve patients’ quality of life."
The collaboration aligns with India’s commitment to advancing cancer immunotherapy, supported by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India and incentives such as grants for research in the relevant field, which can potentially help reduce the cost of clinical research in India. The BRCA has a term of five years.
About CytoMed and SunAct
CytoMed Therapeutics Limited is a Singapore-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel donor-derived cell-based allogeneic immunotherapies for the treatment of various cancers. SunAct Cancer Institute, located in Thane, India, is at the forefront of innovative cancer treatment and research in India and was among the first centers to introduce CAR T-cell therapy.
