Therapy Acceleration Program

Latest News

Therapy Acceleration Program

Latest News

News from 2022 & 2021 News from 2020

Moderna and Carisma Establish Collaboration to Develop in vivo Engineered Chimeric Antigen Receptor Monocytes (CAR-M) for Oncology

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 10, 2022 - Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, and Carisma Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical pioneer in engineered macrophage-based therapeutics, today announced that the two companies have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to discover, develop and commercialize in vivo engineered chimeric antigen receptor monocyte (CAR-M) therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.

Affimed Announces Completion of Enrollment in REDIRECT, the Registration-Directed Study of AFM13 in PTCL

Heidelberg, Germany, January 6, 2022 – Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, announced today that it has completed enrollment in the REDIRECT study (NCT04101331), a registration-directed phase 2 open-label, multicenter, global study investigating the efficacy and safety of AFM13 monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Affimed expects to report topline data from the REDIRECT study in the second half of 2022.

TAP Partner News During ASH: Dec 2021

Current and former TAP partners presented new data during the 2021 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting that took place from December 11-14^th.

OncoPep Completes $11 Million Series D Financing to Continue Clinical Trials and Advance Pipeline Development

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 9, 2021 - OncoPep, Inc., a developer of transformative immunotherapeutics, announced $11 million in Series D funding. The Series D funding will enable OncoPep to continue its clinical trials and advance preclinical development of novel pipeline agents. OncoPep's lead investigational candidate, PVX-410, is a cancer vaccine in clinical development for smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Kymera Therapeutics Announces FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for IRAKIMiD Degrader, KT-413

WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 30, 2021 - Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing targeted protein degradation to deliver novel small molecule protein degrader medicines, today announced the clearance of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its IRAKIMiD degrader, KT-413, and is being developed initially for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MYD88-mutant DLBCL, with the potential to expand into other MYD88-mutant indications and IL-1R/NFkB-driven malignancies.

Affimed Announces 100% Objective Response Rate at Highest Dose in Phase 1-2 Study for CD30-positive Lymphomas

Heidelberg, Germany, November 22, 2021 – Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, today announced interim clinical results from the investigator-initiated phase 1-2 study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, evaluating cbNK cells pre-complexed with Affimed’s innate cell engager (ICE®) AFM13. Patients treated at the recommended phase 2 dose, 100% responded after the first cycle of treatment with five CRs and seven PRs according to investigator assessment.

Abintus Bio Enters Technology Agreement to Enhance In Vivo-Reprogrammed CAR Cell Potency and Durability Against Hematologic Malignancies and Solid Tumors

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 17, 2021 - Abintus Bio, Inc. (Abintus), a company pioneering first-in-class, off-the-shelf medicines that reprogram cells directly in vivo, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the use of its next generation signaling technology (“1XX”) in Abintus’ In Vivo CAR-X products. These products have the potential to overcome the challenges of ex vivo CAR technologies and dramatically improve outcomes and access for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Abintus’ initial funding syndicate included Takeda Ventures and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Therapy Acceleration Program^® (LLS TAP).

Kymera Therapeutics Receives IND Clearance for KT-333, a STAT3 Degrader, for the Treatment of Hematologic and Solid Malignancies

WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 10, 2021 - Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing targeted protein degradation to deliver novel small molecule protein degrader medicines, today reported business highlights and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021. Additionally, the company today announced clearance of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its first-in-class STAT3 degrader, KT-333, now poised to enter the clinic in patients with liquid and solid tumors before year end.

TAP Partner News During SITC: Nov 2021

Current and former TAP partners presented new data during the 2021 The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) meeting that took place from November 10-14^th.

BioTheryX Receives IND Clearance from FDA to Proceed with Phase 1 Study of BTX-1188, a Molecular Glue, for the Treatment of Hematologic and Solid Malignancies

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 2, 2021 - BioTheryX, Inc., a clinical-stage company focused on targeted protein degradation to create life-saving medicines, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the company to proceed with a Phase 1 clinical trial of BTX-1188 in hematologic and solid malignancies. BTX-1188 is a novel oral small molecule cereblon binder that has immunomodulatory properties and promotes the degradation of GSPT1, a translation termination factor, as well as IKZF1/3, zinc finger transcription factors. Enrollment for the phase 1 clinical trial is expected to commence by end of 2021.

Immune-Onc Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Trial Evaluating IO-108, a Novel Antagonist Antibody Targeting LILRB2, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

PALO ALTO, CA, October 13, 2021 - Immune-Onc Therapeutics, Inc. (“Immune-Onc”), a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company developing novel biotherapeutics targeting immunosuppressive myeloid checkpoints, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Company’s first-in-human clinical trial of IO-108, a novel antagonist antibody targeting the myeloid checkpoint Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B2 (LILRB2, also known as ILT4) for the treatment of solid tumors.

Sutro Biopharma and BioNova Pharmaceuticals Enter into Collaboration for STRO-001 in Greater China

SAN FRANCISCO and SHANGHAI, Oct. 12, 2021 - Sutro Biopharma, Inc., a clinical-stage drug discovery, development and manufacturing company focused on the application of precise protein engineering and rational design to create next-generation cancer and autoimmune therapeutics, and BioNova Pharmaceuticals Limited (BioNova), a company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines for the treatment of diseases with unmet medical needs, today jointly announced an option agreement for BioNova to develop and commercialize STRO-001, a CD74-targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC), for patients with hematologic cancers, in Greater China.

X4 Pharmaceuticals Completes Enrollment in Phase 3 Mavorixafor Trial in Patients with WHIM Syndrome

BOSTON, Oct. 04, 2021 - X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: XFOR) announced today that it has completed enrollment in the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of its lead candidate, mavorixafor, in the treatment of patients with genetically confirmed WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis) syndrome, a primary immunodeficiency caused by gain-of-function mutations in the CXCR4 gene. Top-line data from the 4WHIM trial is expected in the fourth quarter of 2022, and a possible regulatory filing in the first quarter of 2023.

Ryvu Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase I/II Study of RVU120 (SEL120) in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Metastatic or Advanced Solid Tumors

Krakow, Poland – August 25, 2021 – Ryvu Therapeutics (WSE:RVU) announced today that the first patient enrolled in the Phase I/II clinical trial investigating RVU120 (SEL120) in relapsed/refractory metastatic or advanced solid tumors, has received the first dose of the study drug.

RVU120 is a highly selective first-in-class CDK8/CDK19 inhibitor, which has demonstrated efficacy in a number of solid tumors in in vitro and in vivo models as well as in hematologic malignancies.

Immunitas Therapeutics Completes $58 Million Series B Financing to Advance Pipeline into the Clinic and Expand Single Cell Analysis Drug Development Platform

Waltham, Mass., August 18, 2021 – Immunitas Therapeutics (“Immunitas”), a single cell genomics-based therapeutics company, today announced the completion of a $58 million Series B financing led by Agent Capital with participation The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Therapy Acceleration Program® (LLS TAP).

Immune-Onc Therapeutics Announces FDA Clearance of IND Application to Initiate First-In-Human Trial of IO-108, a Novel Antagonist Antibody Targeting LILRB2

PALO ALTO, CA, August 12, 2021 - Immune-Onc Therapeutics, Inc. (“Immune-Onc”), a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company developing novel biotherapeutics targeting immunosuppressive myeloid checkpoints, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for IO-108, a novel antagonist antibody targeting Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B2 (LILRB2, also known as ILT4) for the treatment of solid tumors.

X4 Pharmaceuticals Announces Key Enrollment Milestone Achievements in Ongoing Mavorixafor Clinical Trials

BOSTON, Aug. 03, 2021 - X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: XFOR), a leader in the discovery and development of novel therapies targeting diseases of the immune system resulting from dysfunction of the CXCR4 pathway, today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021. The company also announced key enrollment milestone achievements for its lead product candidate, mavorixafor, a novel, oral small molecule currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial (4WHIM) for patients with WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis) syndrome and in two Phase 1b clinical trials for patients with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and Severe Congenital Neutropenia (SCN) and chronic neutropenia disorders, respectively.

Caribou Biosciences Announces Closing of Upsized Initial Public Offering

BERKELEY, CA - Jul. 27, 2021 - Caribou Biosciences, Inc., (Nasdaq: CRBU), a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company, announced today the closing of its previously announced initial public offering of 19,000,000 shares of common stock, at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds to Caribou from the offering were approximately $304.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by Caribou. The shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on July 23, 2021, under the ticker symbol “CRBU.”

MorphoSys to Complete Transformational Acquisition of Constellation Pharmaceuticals

Planegg/Munich, Germany, July 15, 2021 - MorphoSys announced the successful completion of its previously announced cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for a total equity value of the transaction of approximately $1.7 billion. MorphoSys will promptly complete its acquisition of Constellation through a second step merger of MorphoSys Development Inc. with and into Constellation resulting in Constellation surviving as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of MorphoSys.

Caribou Biosciences Announces Dosing of First Patient in Phase 1 Clinical Trial Evaluating CB-010, a CRISPR-Edited Allogeneic Anti-CD19 CAR-T Cell Therapy

BERKELEY, CA – July 12, 2021 – Caribou Biosciences, Inc., a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the first patient has been dosed in its open-label, multicenter ANTLER phase 1 clinical trial (NCT04637763) to evaluate the company’s lead product candidate, CB-010, in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r B-NHL). CB-010 is an allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy derived from healthy donor T cells that have been engineered using Caribou’s chRDNA technology to reduce the risk of graft versus host disease (GvHD) and knock out PD-1 to boost the persistence of CAR-T cell antitumor activity.

Kymera Therapeutics Announces Closing of Upsized Public Offering

WATERTOWN, Mass., July 06, 2021 - Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing targeted protein degradation to deliver novel small molecule protein degrader medicines, today announced the closing of its upsized underwritten public offering at a public offering price of $47.00 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, were approximately $257.0 million.

Kura Oncology Doses First Patient in Phase 1b Expansion Cohorts with Menin Inhibitor KO-539

SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2021 - Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1b portion of KOMET-001, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of the Company’s oral, potent and selective menin inhibitor, KO-539, in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

TAP Partner News During EHA: June 2021

Current and former TAP partners presented new data during the virtual 2021 European Hematology Association (EHA) meeting that took place from June 11-17^th.

TAP Partner News During ASCO: June 2021

Current and former TAP partners presented new data during the virtual 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting that took place from June 4-8^th.

MorphoSys to Acquire Constellation Pharmaceuticals

PLANEGG/MUNICH, Germany & CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Jun. 2, 2021- MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; NASDAQ: MOR) (“MorphoSys”), and Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ: CNST) (“Constellation”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby MorphoSys will acquire Constellation for $34.00 per share in cash, which represents a total equity value of $1.7 billion.

Meet the Researcher: Charlene Liao, PhD

Posted On: May 25, 2021

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, LLS is highlighting the stories of volunteers, healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, survivors, and advocates from across our community. Recently, we caught up with Charlene Liao, Ph.D., Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Immune-Onc Therapeutics, a new LLS Therapy Acceleration Program® (LLS TAP) partner.

BioTheryX Announces $92M Series E Financing to Accelerate Development of Targeted Protein Degradation Pipeline and Technology Platform in Oncology

SAN DIEGO, May 20, 2021 - BioTheryX, Inc., a clinical-stage company focused on degrading proteins to create life-saving cancer medicines, today announced a $92 million Series E financing. The proceeds from the financing will be used to advance multiple molecular glues, PHM-based PROTACs and monovalent degraders, including BTX-1188, toward clinical development. BioTheryX also plans to advance the clinical development of its lead multi-kinase inhibitor, BTX-A51, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and solid tumors.

Affimed Announces Publication of Preclinical Data in Clinical Cancer Research Supporting Therapeutic Potential of AFM13 in Combination with Natural Killer Cells

Heidelberg, Germany, May 13, 2021 – Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company announced today the publication of preclinical in vitro and in vivo research of its lead innate cell engager (ICE®), AFM13 (CD16A/CD30), combined with healthy donor-derived NK cells in Clinical Cancer Research, and supports use of AFM13 combined with NK cells as a promising therapy for CD30-positive hematological malignancies.

LLS TAP announces five new investments supporting next generation immunotherapies

RYE BROOK, N.Y., April 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Therapy Acceleration Program® (LLS TAP) today announced five new investments aimed at speeding the development of new and improved immunotherapies for the treatment of blood cancers. LLS has dedicated more than $100 million over the past several decades, through both grants and TAP investments, to advancing pioneering approaches that harness cellular immunotherapies to fight blood cancers.

Immune-Onc Receives California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Award to Conduct Clinical Trial in AML

APRIL 20, 2021 - Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $6.0 million to Immune-Onc Therapeutics to conduct a clinical trial for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

Kymera Therapeutics Honored by Boston Business Journal as a 2021 Best Places to Work Company

WATERTOWN, Mass., April 19, 2021 - Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing targeted protein degradation to deliver novel small molecule protein degrader medicines, today announced that the Boston Business Journal (BBJ) has named Kymera Therapeutics to its 2021 Best Places to Work, an exclusive ranking of the Massachusetts companies that have built outstanding work environments for their people.

Sanofi Completes Kiadis Acquisition

April 16, 2021 - Sanofi and Kiadis announce today the successful completion of Sanofi’s acquisition of Kiadis, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next generation, ‘off-the-shelf’, NK cell-therapies.

TAP Partner News During AACR: April 10-15 2021

Current and former TAP partners show off data during the virtual 2021 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting that took place from April 10-15th.

FDA Approves Vyxeos for Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Children

DUBLIN, March 30, 2021 - Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a revised label for Vyxeos® (daunorubicin and cytarabine) to include a new indication to treat newly-diagnosed therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) in pediatric patients aged one year and older.

Immune-Onc Therapeutics Announces $73 Million Financing to Advance its Portfolio of Novel Immunotherapies in Blood Cancers and Solid Tumors

PALO ALTO, CA, March 30, 2021 - Immune-Onc Therapeutics, Inc. (“Immune-Onc”), a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company developing novel biotherapeutics targeting immunosuppressive myeloid checkpoints today announced the closing of a $73 million Series B1 and B2 financing. The round was led by Oceanpine Capital and the company also received a strategic capital investment from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Therapy Acceleration Program® (LLS TAP), directed toward advancing the company’s work to treat blood cancers.

CARISMA Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Landmark Clinical Study Evaluating Engineered Macrophages

PHILADELPHIA, March 18, 2021 - CARISMA Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company spun out of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and focused on discovering and developing innovative immunotherapies, announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1 multi-center clinical trial for CT-0508, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M).

Publication of CPX-351 Clinical Data in 'Blood Advances': Phase 3 Post-Hoc Analyses

March 16, 2021 - CPX-351 (Vyxeos, daunorubicin and cytarabine liposome for injection) is a dual-drug liposomal encapsulation of daunorubicin and cytarabine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 and the European Medicines Agency in 2018 for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed t-AML or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC). In the primary analysis of data from the pivotal randomized phase 3 study in older adults with newly diagnosed high-risk/sAML, induction followed by consolidation with CPX-351 demonstrated a significantly improved median overall survival. After 5 years of follow-up, survival benefit was maintained.

Affimed Announces Continuation of REDIRECT, a Registration-directed Study of AFM13 in PTCL, after Positive Preplanned Interim Futility Analysis

Heidelberg, Germany, March 10, 2021 - Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, announced today its decision to continue enrollment in the REDIRECT trial (NCT04101331), which is evaluating AFM13 as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

Immune-Onc Building Broad Pipeline of Myeloid Checkpoint Inhibitors

February 26, 2021 - Congrats to new TAP partner, Immune-Onc for being featured in BioCentury as an Emerging Company.

Caribou Biosciences Raises $115M Series C Financing to Advance Next-Generation CRISPR Technologies and Allogeneic Cell Therapy Pipeline

Berkeley, CA, March 3, 2021 – Caribou Biosciences, Inc., a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome editing biotechnology company, announced the successful completion of an oversubscribed $115 million Series C financing including a strategic investment by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Therapy Acceleration Program® (LLS TAP). Proceeds from the financing will be used to further develop the Company’s proprietary, next-generation CRISPR technology platform and to advance the Company’s pipeline of allogeneic immune cell therapies for oncology with a major focus on blood cancers.

Carisma Therapeutics Completes Series B Financing Totaling $59 Million

PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 2021 - CARISMA Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative immunotherapies, announced the second closing of its Series B equity financing, bringing the total amount raised in this round to $59 million and CARISMA's total capital raised to date to nearly $121 million. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Therapy Acceleration Program® (TAP) also participated in the second closing of Carisma's Series B equity financing to support one or more CAR macrophage cell therapy programs for hematological malignancies.

Kymera Therapeutics Initiates Dosing in Phase 1 Trial of KT-474, a First-in-Class IRAK4 Protein Degrader

WATERTOWN, Mass., March 02, 2021 - Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing targeted protein degradation to deliver novel small molecule protein degrader medicines, announced that the Company recently initiated dosing of the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating KT-474 in adult healthy volunteers and patients with atopic dermatitis or hidradenitis suppurativa. KT-474 is a potential first-in-class, highly active and selective, orally bioavailable IRAK4 degrader being developed for the treatment of toll-like receptor (TLR)/interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)-driven immune-inflammatory diseases and potentially other indications.

NexImmune Announces Closing of Upsized Initial Public Offering

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 17, 2021 - NexImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to employ the body’s own T cells to generate a specific, potent and durable immune response, announced the closing of its previously announced upsized initial public offering where the gross proceeds to NexImmune from the offering were approximately $126.5 million.

This is the first time LLS has participated in an initial public offering through an investment with our Therapy Acceleration Program® (TAP) venture philanthropy initiative.

European Commission Approves ELZONRIS for the Treatment of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

FLORENCE, January 21, 2021 – The Menarini Group, a privately held Italian pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted a marketing authorization, for ELZONRIS (tagraxofusp) as monotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), a rare, aggressive hematologic malignancy with dismal outcomes.