SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO - Senti Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNTI), a biotechnology firm specializing in gene circuit-based therapies, has received an $8 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to advance its Phase 1 clinical trial of SENTI-202. This investigational cell therapy is being developed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
The trial, which is actively enrolling patients in the United States and Australia, is assessing the safety and efficacy of two dose levels of SENTI-202 cells, following lymphodepleting conditioning. SENTI-202 is a Logic Gated CAR-NK cell therapy that aims to selectively target cancer cells expressing CD33 and/or FLT3, while sparing healthy bone marrow cells.
Dr. Timothy Lu, CEO and Co-Founder of Senti Bio, expressed gratitude for CIRM's support and underscored the potential impact of SENTI-202 on individuals with AML. The company expects to release initial efficacy data by the end of 2024 and durability data in 2025.
AML is a prevalent blood and bone marrow cancer in adults, with an estimated 20,800 new cases in the United States in 2024 and a five-year survival rate around 30%. Current treatments include chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and stem cell transplants, but options for relapsed or refractory AML are limited, often resulting in a median overall survival of less than seven months.
Senti Bio's Gene Circuit platform aims to enhance the precision and control of cell and gene therapies. The company has published preclinical data on SENTI-202, demonstrating the potential of Logic Gated CAR-NK cell therapy in treating AML.
CIRM, with a portfolio of over 150 stem cell programs and $5.5 billion in funding, is dedicated to accelerating stem cell treatments for patients with unmet medical needs.
This article is based on a press release statement.
In other recent news, Senti Biosciences has reported a significant breakthrough in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The company's preclinical data, published in the journal Cell Reports, demonstrated the potential of its SENTI-202 therapy to improve treatment outcomes for AML patients. The therapy uses engineered natural killer (NK) cells to selectively target and eliminate AML cells while preserving healthy ones.
Senti Bio's approach employs multi-input Gene Circuits, which include chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) controlled by logic gates, allowing for precise disease targeting. The company is set to translate these findings into a Phase 1 clinical trial of SENTI-202, with patient dosing expected to commence in the second quarter of 2024. Initial efficacy and durability data from the trial are anticipated by the end of 2024 and 2025, respectively.
InvestingPro Insights
As Senti Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNTI) forges ahead with its clinical trials for SENTI-202, investors and industry observers are closely monitoring the company's financial health and stock performance. Recent metrics from InvestingPro shed light on the company's current market stance. Senti Biosciences has a market capitalization of $12.63 million, reflecting the market's valuation of the company. The stock is notably volatile, with a significant return over the last week of 9.52%, despite a steep decline over the last six months of -58.18%.
InvestingPro Tips indicate that Senti Biosciences is quickly burning through cash and has been grappling with weak gross profit margins, which are reflected in the gross profit margin for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 at an alarming -2556.47%. Moreover, analysts do not anticipate the company will be profitable this year, and the valuation implies a poor free cash flow yield. On a more positive note, the company's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations, which could provide some financial cushion in the near term.
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