Vor Bio is developing a proprietary platform built on Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) biology, genome engineering, and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cells that has the potential to shield healthy cells from targeted therapeutics, enabling the use of modalities such as Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and CAR-Ts which by themselves are highly toxic.
The Science
Applying proven technologies in new ways to treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and other blood cancers
By shielding healthy cells, Vor Bio is aiming to delay relapse post-transplant and potentially cure Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and other blood cancers.
Vor Bio scientists and engineers are developing a proprietary platform for the treatment of blood cancers that genetically modifies healthy donor HSCs to remove select cell surface targets, making these HSCs and their progeny resistant to targeted therapies. This would enable targeted therapies to selectively destroy cancer cells while passing over healthy cells. Limiting on-target toxicity previously associated with targeted therapies may allow their use soon after Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT), enabling new treatment opportunities for these patients. By combining our engineered HSCs with targeted therapies—including CAR-Ts and ADCs—we have the potential to completely replace the traditional standard of care for blood cancers such as AML and MDS.
In partnership with leading transplant centers across North America, we are conducting two clinical trials to evaluate this breakthrough approach. Our clinical data has demonstrated that our approach has the potential to shield patients’ healthy cells and enable targeted therapies post-transplant.
Publications
Leveraging CRISPR/Cas9 and HDR to create an engineered CD33 CAR-T to treat AML
Novel CD33/CLL-1-directed dual CAR-T cells mediate potent antigen-specific cytolytic activity in mouse models of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Analyzing Guide RNA (gRNA) Impurity Discovery & Quantification
Purification of CAR+ T Cells Reveals Impact of Untransduced Cells in CAR-T Drug Product
ADCs targeting CD45, a transmembrane receptor found on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and mature leukocytes, have been developed and evaluated for allogeneic HCT in mice. In mouse models, CD45-ADCs show efficacy in depletion of HSPCs, successful donor engraftment across MHC barriers, and a favourable toxicity profile.
Gene-Edited Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Enable Next-Generation CAR-T Cell Therapy for the Treatment of AML
Uncovering Molecular and Functional Dynamics of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells during In Vitro Culture for Cell Therapy Manufacturing