(Alliance News) -Â Syncona Ltd on Friday noted that portfolio company Achilles Therapeutics has reported a positive review by an independent data and safety monitoring committee.
Syncona is a London-based healthcare company that focuses on founding, building and funding a portfolio of life science businesses.
The independent panel has completed its first review of the ongoing, first-in-human Phase I/II Chiron and Thetis trials and has recommended that both clinical trials continue as planned.
In this review of the first six patients dosed with Achilles's Clonal Neoantigen Targeting T cell therapy, the overall tolerability profile was similar to that of standard tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte products that have not been enriched for cNeT reactivities, with the lymphodepletion regimen accounting for most higher-grade adverse events.
"This independent safety review along with the initial data from our Chiron and Thetis trials are promising and are based on patients that have been dosed with cNeTs at the lower end of our prospectively targeted therapeutic dose range," said Iraj Ali, chief executive officer of Achilles.
"We now plan to move to higher cNeT doses and also open a combination cohort in the Thetis trial evaluating the addition of nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, following cNeT infusion, subject to further safety review."
Syncona, separately, noted that Achilles expects to consider additional capital raising options this year, which could include an initial public offering in the US.
Shares in Syncona were up 1.1% at 255.71 pence in London on Friday.
By Lucy Heming;Â lucyheming@alliancenews.com
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