Targeting the Source of Disease-Causing Autoantibodies
Our lead product candidate, DSG3-CAART, is being developed to treat mucosal pemphigus vulgaris (mPV), a blistering skin disease that affects mucous membranes. mPV is caused by autoantibodies that attack the cell adhesion protein desmoglein 3, or DSG3. DSG3-CAART is designed to selectively target and kill the B cells that produce DSG3 antibodies while preserving the healthy B cells critical to immune function.
In September 2019, the FDA cleared our investigational new drug application for our clinical study of DSG3-CAART in patients with mucosal pemphigus vulgaris. We received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of PV from the FDA in January 2020 and Fast Track Designation for improving healing of mucosal blisters in patients with mPV from the FDA in May 2020. The DesCAARTes™ trial is actively recruiting patients at multiple clinical sites across the U.S.