LONDON - Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in T cell therapies for solid tumors, has announced a research collaboration with Arcturus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ARCT) Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ARCT), a company focused on mRNA medicines.
The partnership aims to develop personalized cancer vaccines using a combination of Achilles' AI-driven tumor-targeting technology and Arcturus' self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) platform.
Dr. Iraj Ali, CEO of Achilles Therapeutics, stated that the collaboration is designed to produce more potent and durable T cell responses to improve patient outcomes.
he joint effort will focus on using Achilles' proprietary PELEUS platform to select highly immunogenic clonal neoantigens, which Arcturus' STARR vaccine platform will then express to generate T cell responses. These responses are crucial in controlling tumor growth, as only a small fraction of neoantigens can induce effective T cell activity.
The research may lead to IND-enabling data, which is a step toward potential clinical trials. Any subsequent clinical development will be jointly agreed upon by both parties involved.
Cancer vaccines are designed to enhance the activity of T cells that recognize neoantigens, which are rare mutations expressed by tumor cells. Achilles' PELEUS platform employs AI to select clonal neoantigens that are present on all of a patient's cancer cells, aiming to maximize the efficacy of the treatment.
Achilles is currently conducting two Phase I/IIa trials, CHIRON and THETIS, targeting non-small cell lung cancer and recurrent or metastatic melanoma, respectively. The company's approach involves identifying clonal neoantigens specific to each patient to develop precision T cell-based product candidates.
Arcturus Therapeutics, known for developing the first sa-mRNA COVID vaccine approved worldwide, brings its expertise in RNA therapeutics and vaccine platforms to the collaboration. The STARR Technology platform, combining sa-mRNA with a nanoparticle delivery system, is expected to produce stronger immune responses compared to conventional mRNA vaccines.
The collaboration is based on a press release statement.
InvestingPro Insights
Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL) is at the forefront of innovation in the field of T cell therapies for cancer treatment, as evidenced by its recent partnership with Arcturus Therapeutics. While the scientific community closely watches their joint research efforts, investors and market analysts are also keeping an eye on Achilles' financial health and market performance. Here are some insights based on real-time data from InvestingPro:
Achilles holds a market capitalization of $38.78 million, reflecting its position as a smaller player in the biopharmaceutical industry. The company has been facing financial challenges, as indicated by its negative P/E ratio of -0.57 and adjusted P/E ratio for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 of -0.6. These figures suggest that the company is not currently generating profits, a common scenario for many biotech firms in the research and development phase.
However, there are positive signs as well. Achilles has demonstrated a strong one-month price total return of 19.47%, which may indicate growing investor confidence in the company's future prospects. This performance is particularly noteworthy when considering the company's recent -30.6% three-month price total return, suggesting a potential turnaround in the market's perception.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Achilles holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and has liquid assets that exceed short-term obligations, which is a positive sign of the company's ability to fund its operations in the near term. Yet, it is also important to note that analysts do not anticipate the company to be profitable this year, and Achilles is quickly burning through cash, which poses a risk for long-term sustainability.
For readers interested in a deeper dive into Achilles Therapeutics' financials and market performance, InvestingPro offers additional insights. There are currently 9 more InvestingPro Tips available, which can be accessed through the InvestingPro platform. To enhance your research experience, use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
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