Senti Bio Announces Execution of Grant Award from California Institute for Regenerative Medicines (CIRM) for Clinical Development of SENTI-202

Core Insights - Senti Biosciences, Inc. has received an $8 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicines to support the clinical development of its investigational cell therapy SENTI-202 for treating relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia [1][2] Company Overview - Senti Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation cell and gene therapies using its proprietary Gene Circuit platform, aiming to create therapies with enhanced precision and control [6] - The company is advancing its pipeline with off-the-shelf CAR-NK cells designed to target challenging liquid and solid tumor indications [6] Product Development - SENTI-202 is a Logic Gated off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapy designed to selectively target and eliminate CD33 and/or FLT3 expressing hematologic malignancies while sparing healthy bone marrow cells [3] - The therapy includes three main components: an OR GATE for activating CAR targeting, a NOT GATE for protecting healthy cells, and calibrated-release IL-15 technology to enhance cell persistence and activity [3] - A Phase 1 clinical trial for SENTI-202 is currently enrolling adult patients with relapsed/refractory CD33 and/or FLT3 expressing hematologic malignancies, with initial efficacy data expected by the end of 2024 [2][3] Market Context - Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, with an estimated 20,800 new cases in the U.S. in 2024 and a five-year survival rate of approximately 30% [5] - Current treatment options for relapsed or refractory AML are limited, with median overall survival typically less than seven months [5]