ME Therapeutics Secures Exclusive License for CD22 Nanobody Technology to Advance Next-Generation CAR Cell Therapies
核心洞察
ME Therapeutics (搜索) has obtained exclusive commercial rights to a nanobody-based CD22 (搜索) binder from Canada's National Research Council for use in CAR therapy applications.
The CD22 (搜索) nanobody technology offers potential advantages in stability and design flexibility compared to traditional antibody formats for treating relapsed B-cell cancers (搜索).
The nanobody-based CD22 (搜索) binder is currently being evaluated in an investigator-driven Phase 1 clinical trial for autologous CAR-T therapy in pediatric and adult patients.
ME Therapeutics (搜索) Holdings Inc. has secured exclusive commercial rights to a proprietary nanobody-based CD22 (搜索) binder technology from Canada's National Research Council (NRC), marking a significant expansion of the company's next-generation CAR cell therapy program. The license agreement, finalized on October 15, 2025, grants ME Therapeutics rights to develop the technology for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy applications, including in vivo CAR-T and myeloid CAR (CAR-M) approaches.
Strategic Focus on CD22 Target
The licensed technology addresses a critical clinical need in B-cell cancer (搜索) treatment. CD22 (搜索) expression is often maintained in relapsed B-cell cancers (搜索) following CD19 (搜索) CAR-T therapy, making it an attractive target for next-generation treatments. The nanobody-based approach offers potential advantages in stability, synthesis, and design flexibility compared to traditional antibody formats.
"As a Canadian-owned company, we are honoured to advance this home-grown nanobody asset as part of our in vivo CAR cell therapy program," said Salim Dhanji, CEO of ME Therapeutics (搜索). "This milestone strengthens our commitment to develop innovative immuno-oncology candidates, including next-generation CAR therapies that can reprogram immune cells in the tumour microenvironment using advanced nanobody technology."
Current Clinical Development
The nanobody-based CD22 (搜索) binder is currently being evaluated as part of an autologous CAR-T therapy in an investigator-driven Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT06208735). The study is assessing safety and efficacy in both pediatric and adult patients, providing early clinical validation for the technology's therapeutic potential.
Sue Twine, Director General of the NRC's Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: "This technology was developed through years of dedicated NRC research, with support from our Cell and Gene Therapy Challenge program. It is a compelling example of publicly funded research enabling innovative next generation tools that can support development of affordable, cutting-edge treatments for Canadian patients."
Comprehensive Licensing Terms
The license agreement provides ME Therapeutics (搜索) with extensive territorial coverage across Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. The company holds exclusive rights for autologous CAR cell therapy products in most territories (excluding Canada) and exclusive rights for all other CAR cell therapies across all jurisdictions.
Under the agreement's financial structure, ME Therapeutics (搜索) will pay an upfront license fee within 12 months, followed by royalties on product sales and minimum yearly royalty payments. The company has also committed to milestone payments tied to key development phases, including initiation of Phase 1 trials, Phase 2 trials, registration trials, and six months after first regulatory approval.
Technology Platform Advantages
The nanobody technology platform represents a significant advancement over conventional antibody-based approaches. Nanobodies offer enhanced stability and synthesis capabilities, along with greater design flexibility for engineering CAR constructs. These properties could translate into improved manufacturing efficiency and potentially enhanced therapeutic performance in treating relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies.
The license agreement also provides ME Therapeutics (搜索) with sub-licensing rights, creating opportunities for strategic partnerships and broader technology deployment. This flexibility aligns with the company's broader mission to develop novel immuno-oncology therapeutics that reprogram the tumor microenvironment to enhance cancer treatment outcomes.