Penn spinout Verismo Therapeutics has entered into an expanded sponsored research agreement with the the university.
Under the agreement, Verismo is funding additional preclinical studies being conducted by Penn researchers of the KIR-CAR platform technology for CAR T-cells. The goal is to develop and use this therapy to destroy solid tumors.
Over the next four years, Verismo will provide $5.29 million for Penn scientists to research this technology. The research will be conducted in the Penn laboratories of Dr. Michael C. Milone, associate professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and co-inventor of Kymriah (the first FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy), and Dr. Donald L. Siegel, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Milone and Siegel are co-founders of the company, along with Dr. Bryan Kim, who is the CEO of Verismo.
“I am hopeful that the collaboration between Penn and Verismo will accelerate the development of the KIR-CAR therapy and ultimately bring a new much needed treatment option to patients with solid tumors,” said Kim.
Read the full article and learn more about CAR-KIR here.