Priothera Secures €1.7 Million Government Funding to Enhance CAR-T Cell Therapy with Novel S1P Receptor Modulator
Key Insights
Priothera (search) received €1.7 million in non-dilutive funding from France's i-Nov innovation competition to support the MOCART clinical program evaluating mocravimod as an adjunct to CAR-T cell therapy.
The novel oral S1P receptor modulator mocravimod aims to address the significant toxicity challenges of CAR-T therapy, where 40-60% of patients experience high-grade side effects including cytokine release syndrome and neurological toxicity.
Mocravimod's dual mechanism of action is designed to reduce the incidence and severity of CAR-T-related toxicities while potentially improving response rates and treatment durability.
Priothera (search), a late-stage biopharma company developing novel treatments for hematologic malignancies, has secured nearly €1.7 million in non-dilutive funding through France's i-Nov innovation competition. The funding will support the company's MOCART clinical program, which aims to evaluate whether adding mocravimod to commercial CAR-T cell therapies could improve patient outcomes.
The i-Nov program, part of the France 2030 initiative and operated by Bpifrance (search), represents a flagship French government effort to support breakthrough innovation from high-potential companies across strategic sectors.
Addressing Critical CAR-T Therapy Limitations
CAR-T cell therapies have demonstrated remarkable clinical responses and durable disease control in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. However, these promising treatments face significant safety challenges, with 40-60% of patients experiencing high-grade toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), a form of severe neurological toxicity.
Mocravimod, Priothera (search)'s lead compound, is a novel oral sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator designed to address these limitations through a unique dual mechanism of action. The drug has the potential to enhance CAR-T cell therapy effectiveness by reducing the incidence and severity of CRS and ICANS while improving response rates and treatment durability.
Expanding Beyond Transplant Applications
"We are honoured to receive this i-Nov funding from Bpifrance (search), which underscores the innovation and therapeutic potential of mocravimod beyond allo-HCT," said Florent Gros, Co-Founder and CEO of Priothera (search). "With its unique immunomodulatory properties, mocravimod is well-positioned to become a key component in the next generation of cell therapy regimens."
The MOCART trial represents a significant expansion of Priothera (search)'s clinical development strategy into CAR-T therapy, building on the company's expertise in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). The company continues to advance mocravimod in the MO-TRANS global Phase 3 study for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing allo-HCT.
Novel Mechanism in Blood Cancer Treatment
Mocravimod stands out as the only S1P receptor modulator currently in development specifically for treating blood cancers. The drug's dual mechanism of action is designed to preserve the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect, which is critical for eliminating cancer cells, while reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a major complication following allo-HCT.
This approach addresses a significant unmet medical need in hematologic oncology, where balancing therapeutic efficacy with manageable toxicity profiles remains a critical challenge. Priothera (search)'s focus on unlocking the full therapeutic potential of S1P receptor modulation across multiple settings in blood cancers positions the company at the forefront of cellular therapy enhancement.
The funding milestone comes as Priothera (search), founded in 2020 and operating from France with headquarters in Dublin, continues to build momentum in the competitive hematologic oncology space. The company is backed by leading international life sciences investors, including Fountain Healthcare Partners, abrdn, EarlyBird Venture Capital, BEI, and Bpifrance (search) Grand Est.