CERo Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CERO) has announced preclinical data demonstrating that its lead compound, CER-1236, effectively eliminates ovarian cancer cells in preclinical models without indications of toxicity. The data, presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2024 conference in Houston, suggest a potential new avenue for treating ovarian cancer by targeting the immune receptor TIM-4-L.
Targeting TIM-4-L in Ovarian Cancer
The study assessed CER-1236's impact on ovarian cancer cell lines, revealing that the introduction of CER-1236 led to an increase in TIM-4-L expression. This, in turn, resulted in the selective killing of cancer cells while preserving healthy cells. This specificity for TIM-4-L, combined with the absence of clinically relevant toxicity in the models studied, positions CER-1236 as a potentially attractive therapeutic option for ovarian cancer.
Implications for Clinical Development
Chris Ehrlich, Interim CEO of CERo, commented on the broad potential of CER-1236, stating, "We have long contended that CER-1236 has application in multiple cancer types. While we await the opportunity to introduce our compound into the clinic for AML, we continue to see other models in which there is utility and minimal-to-no toxicity." The company plans to pursue Orphan Drug designation during clinical development, which could provide additional market exclusivity and development incentives.
CER-T Technology and Future Directions
CERo Therapeutics is focused on developing next-generation engineered T cell therapeutics, known as Chimeric Engulfment Receptor T cells (CER-T). This approach aims to integrate desirable characteristics of both innate and adaptive immunity into a single therapeutic construct. CERo believes that CER-T cells may offer greater therapeutic application than currently approved CAR-T cell therapy, potentially spanning both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The company anticipates initiating clinical trials for CER-1236 in early 2025 for hematological malignancies.
The study, titled, “TIM-4 Expression on Ovarian Cancer Samples can be Targeted by Engineered Chimeric Engulfment Receptor T cells without Toxicity,” highlights the potential of CER-1236 to selectively target and kill ovarian cancer cells without harming healthy cells, offering a promising new approach to ovarian cancer treatment.
