Leucid Bio Company Profile

Background

Leucid Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing next-generation Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies aimed at improving treatment outcomes for patients with refractory cancers. Established in 2014, the company was founded to translate over two decades of pioneering CAR-T research led by Dr. John Maher at King's College London. Leucid Bio's mission is to leverage its proprietary Lateral CAR Platform to create innovative cell therapies that address the challenges associated with treating solid tumors.

Key Strategic Focus

Leucid Bio's strategic focus centers on:

Proprietary Lateral CAR Platform: Developing CAR-T therapies that adopt a more natural biological configuration, enhancing T-cell potency and generating persistent long-term responses with reduced toxicity.

Targeting Solid Tumors: Addressing the unmet need in treating solid tumors, which constitute approximately 90% of cancers and have been less responsive to existing CAR-T therapies.

Innovative Manufacturing: Implementing scalable and efficient manufacturing processes to expedite the delivery of personalized cell therapies to patients.

Financials and Funding

Leucid Bio has secured £15 million in funding to date. In 2021, the company raised £11.5 million in a Series A financing round led by Epidarex and Vulpes Investment Management, with participation from 2Invest, Future Fund of the British Business Bank, and Sofinnova Partners. The capital is intended to advance the company's CAR-T pipeline into clinical trials and enhance manufacturing capabilities.

Pipeline Development

LEU011: Leucid Bio's lead asset, LEU011, is an autologous, lateral CAR T-cell therapy targeting NKG2D ligands. The NKG2D receptor is an activating immune receptor that triggers cell death upon recognition of one or more of the eight human NKG2D ligands expressed on transformed, infected, or damaged cells. LEU011 has potential for the treatment of multiple cancer types, as NKG2D ligands are expressed on more than 80% of human tumor cells. The company received Clinical Trial Authorization (CTA) from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in September 2023 to commence the Phase 1/2 AERIAL trial, evaluating the safety and clinical activity of LEU011 in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.

T4 Immunotherapy: This pan-ErbB targeted autologous CAR T-cell product is currently in Phase I clinical trials for patients with refractory head and neck cancer. To date, 18 patients have been treated, with 10 achieving disease stabilization.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Leucid Bio's innovations include:

Lateral CAR Platform: A novel CAR structure where complementary signaling domains are integrated in parallel across the cell membrane, replicating the natural side-by-side position observed in endogenous immune receptors. This design enhances tumor targeting, selectivity, and engagement, leading to improved efficacy and safety profiles.

T2 γδ T-Cells: A patented technique for generating a distinct population of γδ T-cells from the peripheral blood of healthy donors, suitable for off-the-shelf cellular therapy. These T2 cells exhibit enhanced potency and can be further engineered to boost anti-tumor responses.

Innovative Manufacturing Platforms: Utilizing an IL-4 based selective CAR T-cell expansion approach, allowing for the production of effective CAR T-cells from a simple blood draw, reducing invasiveness and manufacturing complexity.

Leadership Team

Filippo Petti, Chief Executive Officer: Appointed in July 2023, Mr. Petti brings extensive experience in operations, finance, and research within the biotech industry, including leadership roles at Celyad Oncology SA.

Dr. John Maher, Chief Scientific Officer: A consultant immunologist and pioneer in CAR-T research, Dr. Maher leads the scientific direction of Leucid Bio, focusing on translating innovative research into clinical applications.

Mark Docherty, Chief Financial and Operating Officer: With over 25 years of experience in life sciences investment and operations, Mr. Docherty oversees financial and operational strategies at Leucid Bio.

Belinda Carlsen, Vice President of Clinical Operations: Bringing over two decades of experience in clinical research operations, Ms. Carlsen leads the clinical operations team, ensuring the successful execution of clinical trials.

Marc Davies, Vice President of Research and Development: Dr. Davies manages Leucid Bio's CAR T-cell R&D pipeline and the clinical translation of lead assets, leveraging his extensive background in adoptive cell therapy.

Arindam Mitra, Director of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC): Mr. Mitra oversees manufacturing strategies, including process development and regulatory strategies, to support the production of cell and gene therapy products.

Leadership Changes

In July 2023, Filippo Petti was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Artin Moussavi. Mr. Petti's appointment aligns with Leucid Bio's transition from a discovery-focused company to a clinical-stage organization.