TxCell snapped up by Sangamo

The merger will combine TxCell’s expertise in the field of regulatory T cell (Treg) development for immunological diseases with Sangamo’s ex vivo gene editing capabilities. The companies plan to evaluate the potential of CAR-Treg – Tregs genetically modified with a chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR – therapies to prevent graft rejection in solid organ transplant and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Preclinical research has shown that antigen specific CAR-Tregs can deliver potent immunosuppression locally to targeted tissues. By contrast, currently available anti-TNF alpha small molecule and monoclonal antibody drugs are associated with global, non-specific immune suppression. “We believe CAR-Treg therapies will prove to be as exciting for immunology as CAR-T has been for oncology,” commented Sandy Macrae, CEO of Sangamo.

Sangamo expects that the proposed acquisition of TxCell will accelerate the its entry into the clinic with a CAR-Treg therapy. In 2019, Sangamo expects to submit a clinical trial authorisation application in Europe for TxCell’s first CAR-Treg investigational product candidate for solid organ transplant, and to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial later in the year. In addition, Sangamo intends to use its zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) gene editing technology to develop next-generation autologous and allogeneic CAR-Treg cell therapies for use in treating autoimmune diseases.

“We are excited to combine with Sangamo for their experience and technical expertise in gene-edited cell therapy, and we believe Sangamo’s ZFN editing technology will facilitate the precise genetic modifications needed to create a new class of Treg-based antigen and tissue specific immunosuppressive medicines,” said Stephane Boissel, CEO of TxCell. “Progressing such CAR-Treg products in clinical development and towards commercialization would require expertise and financial resources that were impossible for us to get as a stand-alone business at a reasonable cost.”