Gamma-delta work makes cautious inroads into the clinic

TC Biopharm’s treatment of the first patient cohort in a study of OmnImmune (TCB002) marks only the fourth human trial of gamma-delta cells in the West. There might be more, as the UK company stresses that the trial is intended as a prelude to going into the clinic with a gamma-delta CAR-T cell product – possibly a first – later this year. Gamma-delta T cells have T-cell receptors comprising gamma and delta, rather than the more common alpha and beta, subunits. Since alpha-beta T-cell receptors are responsible for autoimmunity, gamma-delta T cells have low propensity to cause graft-versus-host disease, and might therefore be used off the shelf. Indeed, TC says the purpose of the OmnImmune study is merely to demonstrate the safety of injecting expanded but unmodified, donor-derived gamma-delta T cells into nine acute myelogenous leukaemia subjects. Other clinical trials include those of Gadeta’s TEG001 and an academic trial of OmnImmune, while an Innate Pharma study at Rennes University Hospital was terminated 10 years ago. Clinical work is also under way in China, and the space has seen deals too (Gamma-delta follows financing with consolidation, July 20, 2018).