CRISPR Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data at AACR 2021 Supporting CD70 Knockout as a Novel Approach to Increasing CAR-T Cell Function

ZUG, Switzerland and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CRISPR Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CRSP), a biopharmaceutical company focused on creating transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases, today announced preclinical data from the Company’s allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) program at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021. The data, presented today in an e-poster session entitled, CD70 knockout: A novel approach to augment CAR-T cell function, found that the generation of CAR-T cells including knockout of the CD70 show improved properties including potency and persistence over CAR T cells where the CD70 gene remains intact.

The Company applied CRISPR/Cas9 editing to examine the effects of knocking out the gene function of multiple checkpoint-related genes in CAR-T cells, including PD1 and LAG3 where antagonism with antibodies has shown anti-cancer properties in humans and mice, as well CD70. The data demonstrated that CD70 knockout performed better than other checkpoint genes and provided advantages for CAR-T cells targeting multiple antigens beyond CD70. In contrast, CAR-T cells with classical checkpoint genes knocked out showed no improved properties and often proved detrimental to CAR-T function.

CRISPR Therapeutics is currently studying CTX130^TM, an investigational allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy, in patients with CD70-expressing tumors, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma and B and T cell malignancies. CRISPR Therapeutics’ two independent Phase 1, single-arm, multi-center, open-label clinical trials that are designed to assess the safety and efficacy of several dose levels of CTX130 are ongoing. The Company expects to report top-line data from these trials in 2021.

About CRISPR Therapeutics
CRISPR Therapeutics is a leading gene editing company focused on developing transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases using its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 platform. CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary gene editing technology that allows for precise, directed changes to genomic DNA. CRISPR Therapeutics has established a portfolio of therapeutic programs across a broad range of disease areas including hemoglobinopathies, oncology, regenerative medicine and rare diseases. To accelerate and expand its efforts, CRISPR Therapeutics has established strategic collaborations with leading companies including Bayer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and ViaCyte, Inc. CRISPR Therapeutics AG is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, with its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, CRISPR Therapeutics, Inc., and R&D operations based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and business offices in San Francisco, California and London, United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.crisprtx.com.