RACR-iCILs

RACR-iCILs (Rapamycin Activated Cytokine Receptor-induced Cytotoxic Innate Lymphoid cells) is an investigational, off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapy developed by Umoja Biopharma for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. These cells are derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and engineered to express a proprietary synthetic cytokine receptor (RACR). The RACR system is specifically activated by the administration of rapamycin (sirolimus), which triggers JAK/STAT signaling to promote the growth, survival, and anti-tumor activity of the cells. This allows for controllable in vivo expansion and persistence. The cells are manufactured using the Synthetic Receptor Enabled Differentiation (ShRED) process, producing highly pure cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells without the need for feeder cells or exogenous cytokines. RACR-iCILs can further be engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to target specific tumor antigens such as CD19 or CD20.

Other names

Rapamycin Activated Cytokine Receptor-induced Cytotoxic Innate Lymphoid cells