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Changing BioBusiness 1% at a time

T cell supercharging for solid tumors - CRISPR meets Cell therapy A new biotech OverT Bio is coming out of stealth with $16 million from The round was co-led by ARTIS Ventures and Wing VC, with participation from Fusion Fund, OMX Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Gaingels, Civilization Ventures, Hawktail, and Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Here are 5 things investors should know about it. 1. Addressing the Solid Tumor Challenge: The holy grail of cell therapy has been conquering solid tumors. Unlike blood cancers, these tumors present a tougher target due to their complex microenvironment. OverT's focus is significant because current success stories are rare. There are currently 1,111 trials in Phase 1, 511 in phase 2 and 12 in Phase 3 for solid tumors according to ClinicalTrials.gov. Only one cell therapy has been approved for a solid tumor cancer: Iovance’s tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte-based therapy #Amtagvi, which won FDA approval in February for advanced melanoma. 2. Supercharging T Cells with CRISPR Screens: This is where OverT's technology gets exciting. CRISPR screening allows them to identify genes that, when overexpressed, enhance T cell function against tumors. Think of it as giving T cells superpowers! This approach holds promise for creating more potent CAR-T therapies. 3. Not the Only Player in the Arena: Competition is fierce in the CAR-T space. While OverT's approach is promising, it's important to be aware of other players using similar CRISPR activation screens Sidi Chen team and Alex Marson team. 4. Diversifying the Arsenal: Gamma Delta T Cells: OverT is exploring using gamma delta T cells in their therapy. These unique immune cells are activation-independent, potentially offering an advantage over traditional T cells. This adds another layer of potential differentiation for OverT. Gamma delta T cells make up only a small percentage of circulating T cells (around 5%), but they offer some advantages like the ability to recognize tumor-associated antigens without prior MHC presentation. 5. Aggressive Timeline for Clinical Trials: OverT aiming for a mid-2025 clinical trial candidate is ambitious but demonstrates their commitment to rapid development. However, it's crucial to remember that the road from preclinical studies to market is long and fraught with risk. What do you think about this new approach to cell therapy? Spencer Knight Cookie Yu, PhD Nimisha Gupta, Ph.D. Share this news with your investor buddies. They’ll thank you later. 🗣️ #biotech #investment #investor #vc #drug #discovery #healthcare #market #business #crispr #celltherapy _________________________________________________________________________________ Biotech investor or innovator? We assist investors unlock potential by assisting with due diligence and companies refine strategies for success and get bigger exposure to investors. Send me a DM and let´s connect Follow me, hit the 🔔 Adrian Rubstein

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