#United States #Minneapolis #Immunotherapy #Luminary Therapeutics #CAR T

Luminary Therapeutics Secures Major Funding for Innovative CAR T Therapy

Introduction
In a significant advancement for cancer treatment, Luminary Therapeutics has announced that it has received up to $5.8 million in funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This funding aims to propel the development of an innovative allogeneic CAR T therapy specifically designed for targeting solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer.

The Challenge with Solid Tumors
Traditionally, CAR T therapies have shown remarkable success in treating blood cancers, such as leukemias and lymphomas. However, solid tumors like lung and colorectal cancer have proven challenging and resistant to these therapies. Jeff Liter, CEO and President of Luminary Therapeutics, has emphasized the urgency to address this gap in treatment options.
"While CAR T therapies have been effective for blood cancers, solid tumors like lung and colorectal cancers have proven to be resistant to current CAR T therapies," he stated.

Combining Capabilities for Enhanced Effectiveness
Luminary's approach combines the direct killing power of allogeneic CAR T cells with the unique ability to utilize the patient's immune system. This involves leveraging gamma delta T cells, which function as professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) capable of presenting tumor-specific neoantigens. By integrating these neoantigen-presenting functions with CAR-mediated tumor cell killing, Luminary aims to create a more effective treatment that also recruits the patient's immune system to enhance the response and durability of tumor clearance.

Innovative Manufacturing Platform
Founded in 2019, Luminary Therapeutics has developed a proprietary gamma delta expansion platform, which allows the company to manufacture cell therapies in a more cost-effective and time-efficient manner compared to traditional methods. This groundbreaking platform supports the scaling of Luminary’s therapeutic pipeline while expanding the capabilities of its CAR T therapy development.

Luminary has already initiated multiple autologous Phase I clinical trials focused on its first therapeutic program, utilizing a unique triple receptor BAFF CAR T. Furthermore, they are also exploring pre-clinical dual targeting CAR platforms designed to tackle solid tumor therapies. Through these advanced receptor and signaling designs combined with superior cell engineering, Luminary aims to improve patient responses across cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Broader Impact on Healthcare
The recent grant from ARPA-H not only represents a crucial milestone for Luminary Therapeutics but aligns with the agency’s mission to enhance healthcare outcomes across the board. By addressing the challenges faced by traditional CAR T therapies, Luminary's innovative approaches could pave the way for effective treatment solutions for patients with previously resistant solid tumors.

Conclusion
As Luminary Therapeutics moves forward with this groundbreaking project, the hope is that these advancements in CAR T therapy will revolutionize the treatment landscape for solid tumors. With this funding, the company is poised to make significant strides that could greatly improve the lives of patients battling these difficult-to-treat cancers. For more insights on Luminary Therapeutics and their pioneering work, visit www.luminarytx.com.

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Published by: Luminary Therapeutics
Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Jeff Liter, 612-309-7653
Email: [email protected]
Source: Luminary Therapeutics