Adaptimmune Therapeutics has announced that the first patient has been dosed in its expanded Phase I/II trial of its affinity enhanced T-cell receptor (TCR) therapeutic targeting the NY-ESO-1 cancer antigen in synovial sarcoma patients. Based on encouraging results in the first cohort of 10 patients, the trial is being expanded to encompass an additional 20 patients in two further cohorts.
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Adaptimmune is collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the development of its NY-ESO TCR programme through a strategic cancer immunotherapy partnership announced in June 2014. Under the terms of the agreement, GSK has an exclusive option to license Adaptimmune's NY-ESO TCR therapeutic and upon exercise would assume full responsibility for further development and commercialisation.
Synovial sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissue and a type of solid tumor primarily affecting adolescents and young adults. Most metastatic soft tissue sarcomas are currently incurable – 75–80% of patients do not survive beyond two to three years – and there are limited treatment options for unresectable and recurrent synovial sarcoma, which is nearly always fatal.
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