BCAR1

BCAR1 (BCL2L1-armoured BCMA-targeting CAR T cells) is an investigational, second-generation autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy designed for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Developed by researchers at the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, the therapy targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA/TNFRSF17) expressed on myeloma cells. To overcome the common limitations of CAR T-cell therapies, such as poor persistence and activation-induced cell death (AICD) driven by chronic antigenic stimulation, BCAR1 is genetically engineered to co-express BCL2L1 (encoding Bcl-xL), an anti-apoptotic protein. This 'armouring' strategy enhances the survival, metabolic fitness, and anti-tumor activity of the CAR T cells, maintaining them in a central memory and precursor exhausted state while preventing terminal exhaustion. BCAR1 is undergoing regulatory preparations for Phase I clinical trials.

Other names

BCL2L1-armored BCMA-directed CAR T cellsBCL-2L1-armored BCMA-directed CAR T cellsBCL 2L1-armored BCMA-directed CAR T cellsBCL2L1-armored BCMA-targeting CAR T cellsBCL-2L1-armored BCMA-targeting CAR T cellsBCL 2L1-armored BCMA-targeting CAR T cellsBCL2L1-armoured BCMA-directed CAR T cellsBCL-2L1-armoured BCMA-directed CAR T cellsBCL 2L1-armoured BCMA-directed CAR T cellsBCL2L1-armoured BCMA-targeting CAR T cellsBCL-2L1-armoured BCMA-targeting CAR T cellsBCL 2L1-armoured BCMA-targeting CAR T cells