Core Viewpoint - Cullinan Therapeutics has received FDA clearance for its Investigational New Drug application for CLN-978, marking it as the first CD19 T cell engager in development for autoimmune diseases, specifically targeting systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [1][4]. Group 1: Clinical Trial Details - The global Phase 1 clinical trial will assess CLN-978 in patients with moderate to severe SLE, specifically those with a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score of eight or greater and who have not responded adequately to at least two prior treatments [2]. - The trial consists of two parts: Part A is a dose escalation phase starting at 10 micrograms to determine the target dose, while Part B will explore multiple dose schedules based on data from Part A [2]. Group 2: Objectives and Mechanism - The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety of CLN-978 for treating active moderate to severe SLE, with secondary objectives including pharmacokinetics, B cell kinetics, immunogenicity, and clinical activity [3]. - CLN-978 is a bispecific T cell engager designed to target CD19, facilitating the lysis of CD19-expressing cells, and is engineered for high affinity binding to efficiently target B cells, including those with low CD19 levels [5]. Group 3: Market Need and Company Background - There is a significant unmet medical need for effective treatments in SLE, as current therapies often fail to control disease activity and prevent long-term organ damage [4]. - Cullinan Therapeutics is focused on developing targeted therapies across various modalities for autoimmune diseases and cancer, aiming to create new standards of care [7].
Cullinan Therapeutics Receives U.S. FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application for CLN-978 Administered Subcutaneously in Patients with Moderate to Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus