Pipeline
With multiple clinical and preclinical assets in development, our growing product pipeline is bringing mRNA Cell Therapy to autoimmune indications.
Myasthenia gravis
Descartes-08
SLE
Descartes-08
Other autoimmune diseases
Descartes-08
Autoimmune diseases, myeloma*
Descartes-15
Autoimmune diseases
Descartes-33
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
*Phase 1 dose escalation study in myeloma underway.
- mRNA CAR-T programs (autologous)
- Allogenic programs
- In situ transfection programs
DESCARTES-08
Descartes-08, Cartesian’s lead mRNA cell therapy candidate and a potential first-in-class mRNA CAR-T, is an autologous mRNA CAR-T product targeting BCMA. In contrast to conventional DNA-based CAR T-cell therapies, mRNA CAR-T administration does not require preconditioning chemotherapy and does not carry the risk of genomic integration associated with cancerous transformation.
Cartesian is developing Descartes-08 as a potential treatment for patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), for which is has been granted Orphan Drug Designation and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Myasthenia Gravis
gMG is a debilitating autoimmune disease affecting over 60,000 people in the U.S. Treatment of gMG requires the chronic use of toxic immunosuppressants.
In a Phase 2b double-blind, placebo-controlled study, MG patients treated with Descartes-08 experienced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements compared to patients treated with placebo. Consistent with previously reported results from the Phase 2a open-label portion of the trial, Descartes-08 demonstrated a favorable safety profile supporting outpatient administration without the need for lymphodepleting chemotherapy.
Cartesian plans to discuss next steps for the program with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
SLE is an incurable chronic autoimmune disease marked by systemic inflammation that affects multiple organ systems including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and heart. The symptoms of SLE can range from mild to life-threatening and often include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. SLE impacts approximately 1.5 million people in the United States.
Descartes-08 is currently being assessed in a Phase 2 study in patients with SLE.
DESCARTES-15
Descartes-15 is a next-generation autologous anti-BCMA mRNA CAR-T product candidate designed to have predictable and controllable pharmacokinetics, potentially circumventing preconditioning chemotherapy, and avoiding the risk of genomic integration.
Planning for the first-in-human Phase 1 dose escalation trial is underway to assess the safety and tolerability of outpatient Descartes-15 administration in patients with multiple myeloma.
Cartesian expects to subsequently assess Descartes-15 in autoimmune indications.