PHILADELPHIA, PA — In a notable push into the autoimmune diseases arena, Century Therapeutics has announced key developments in its iPSC-derived iNK cell therapy, CNTY-101. The company is looking to expand the therapy’s clinical development beyond its initial application in the CALiPSO-1 trial for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This move has the potential to change the treatment landscape for autoimmune diseases, considering CNTY-101’s unique and differentiated profile.
However, Century’s ambitious expansion is more than just a scientific move. A $60 million private placement led by Bain Capital Life Sciences backs Century’s push into the autoimmune sphere, which, in turn, extends the company’s financial runway into the later half of this decade. This robust financial positioning further enshrines Century’s commitment to improving autoimmune patient outcomes and harnessing the untapped potential within this crucial medical field.
But Century’s plans don’t stop there. The acquisition of Clade Therapeutics propels Century as a frontrunner in the allogeneic, iPSC-derived cell therapy sphere. An addition to Century’s quiver, Clade’s focus on engineerable, scalable, and consistent stem cell-based medicines, enhances Century’s existing pipeline while also boosting its next-generation Allo-Evasion platform.
This acquisition expands Century’s pipeline with the addition of three preclinical-stage programs from Clade’s αβ iT platform. This includes a wide range of applications, spanning both cancer and autoimmune diseases. Such a roadmap and platform enhancement represent a significant stride in Century’s continued pursuit of creating more potent treatment options for patients.
This impressive string of developments – the expansion into autoimmune diseases, the successful private placement, and the acquisition of Clade Therapeutics – reinforce Century’s commitment to broadening their research and development initiatives. Driving forward with the goal to meet the significant unmet needs for patients suffering from these debilitating conditions, Century plans to initiate CALiPSO-1 in SLE in the first half of this year, while pursuing additional regulatory filings for CNTY-101 in autoimmune disease.
Investigating further, Century’s increased research and development into autoimmune diseases has seen it pursue additional regulatory filings for CNTY-101. This innovative therapy is a CD19 targeting allogeneic iNK cell therapy. The therapeutic mechanism involves six precision gene edits powered by Century’s Allo-Evasion technology. This advancement enables repeat dosing without the need for continued lymphodepletion and offers the potential to tightly control drug exposure and possibly eliminate prolonged B-cell aplasia. Given this, Century plans to evaluate CNTY-101 in moderate to severe SLE in the CALiPSO-1 trial to further unravel its potential for autoimmune diseases.
On the financial front, Century successfully marshaled a select group of institutional and accredited investors for a $60 million private placement of its common stock. The well-orchestrated endeavor saw new investors including Bain Capital Life Sciences, Adage Capital Partners LP, Octagon Capital, and Superstring Capital join existing investors like Casdin Capital, Boxer Capital, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, and DAFNA Capital Management, LLC.
With these significant advancements, Century Therapeutics boldly carves a innovative path forward in tackling autoimmune diseases. The expansion of CNTY-101, the fortification of its cash position and the bolstering of its technology through the acquisition of Clade, Century is establishing a strong footing in a rapidly evolving field. As Century continues to disrupt the status quo, patients, investors, and the broader medical community eagerly await the transformative potential these developments hold for the future of autoimmune disease treatment.
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