NS19CAR

NS19CAR (ns19CAR) is an experimental, non-signaling chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct targeting CD19, specifically designed for use in gamma-delta (γδ) T cell therapies. Unlike conventional CARs, NS19CAR lacks the CD3ζ (CD3 zeta) signaling domain, rendering it non-signaling. This design leverages the intrinsic, MHC-independent cytotoxicity of γδ T cells against tumor-associated stress antigens while using the CAR to provide additional specificity for CD19+ cells. By omitting the primary activation signal from the CAR, the therapy aims to reduce on-target off-tumor toxicity against healthy B cells, which typically occurs with standard CD19 CAR-T therapies. The construct is co-expressed with Interleukin-15 (IL-15) to improve the fitness, expansion, and persistence of the γδ T cells. Preclinical data presented at the 2023 AACR conference demonstrated efficacy against CD19+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells while sparing healthy B cells.

Other names

non-signaling CD19 CAR