RE: Something special14 Sep 2025 12:46
You’re missing the key biological distinction here – CD19 is just a lineage marker, which is why we see CD19-negative relapses after CAR-T. Leukaemic cells can switch off CD19 and carry on surviving. FLT3 is fundamentally different – it’s an oncogene and a driver of leukaemigenisis. These AML blasts are addicted to FLT3 signaling; down-regulating or losing FLT3 isn’t a viable escape route without severely compromising their ability to proliferate or even survive. That makes FLT3 a very high-value target, because antigen escape is far less likely compared with CD19.
On the data side, we have two patients now several months out – roughly 6.5 months and 4.5 months – both with no HSCT, no follow-up therapy, no relapses, and a clean safety profile. In r/r FLT3+ AML, where median remission durations are typically measured in weeks even with drugs like gilteritinib, this kind of durability is already highly encouraging. The FDA evidently agreed, since they approved paediatric dosing after reviewing just the first two adults – that’s not a routine decision and suggests they saw a strong and clean efficacy/safety signal.
Yes, pharma will want to be sure, but this is exactly when early strategic discussions happen – when the product looks safe, efficacious, and differentiated, but before the price becomes prohibitive. Hemogenyx is already in the sweet spot for interest, and every month of additional remission data only strengthens the case and pushes valuation pressure upward.