zCART

zCART is a universal and switchable chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy platform designed to address antigen heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in solid tumors. The platform utilizes cotinine, a pharmacologically inert metabolite of nicotine, as a molecular bridge (hapten) to decouple antigen recognition from T-cell activation. The system consists of anti-cotinine CAR T cells and cotinine-conjugated affibodies (switches) that target specific tumor-associated antigens. By administering different affibody switches, the zCART platform allows for flexible, multi-target control and the ability to target multiple antigens simultaneously or sequentially, potentially enhancing anti-tumor activity and safety in treating heterogeneous solid tumors.

Other names

cotinine-based switchable CAR T cell therapy