Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown significant promise in fighting blood cancers. Some studies indicate 9 of 10 people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with CAR-T therapy experienced full remission. Since 2017, the FDA has approved 6 CAR-T therapies to treat blood cancers, including lymphomas, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, with the potential for many more on the horizon. Cell and Gene reported 750 CAR-T therapies in the global pipeline in 2022, a 50% increase from 2019. With so much activity in the space, it’s not surprising that the value of the global CAR-T therapy market is expected to almost double by 2026, to reach $3.55 billion.

This competitive space is brimming with innovative companies, each bringing their unique scientific or technical approach to CAR-T discovery and development challenges. Whether it’s a distinctive target, CAR modification, or cell processing method, effectively communicating your methodology to investors is vital to advancing your pipeline. Below are approach-specific tips to help convey your unique value to investors.

Novel CAR-T target

Although the currently approved CAR-T targets are both B-cell antigens – CD19 or B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), other targets are being explored. If your team has chosen a novel CAR-T target over a previously established one, you’ll want to validate that new target for investors by providing a window to your decision-making process.

Begin by bringing everyone up to speed. While some investors may be familiar with your novel target, don’t assume everyone in your audience has the same baseline knowledge. Instead, provide the background information to give each person a solid foundation for your story to build upon. Then, take a few moments in your pitch to provide scientific and/or clinical proof that your target is viable by sharing studies, data, or other documentation you used as the basis for your decision. Walking your audience through your decision-making process makes clear your organization’s reasoning for selecting the target as well as your expertise with it.

Next generation CAR-T

Improving safety and efficacy of CAR-Ts is driving the rapid evolution of the sapce. Scientists are redesigning the receptors to minimize off-target toxicity, enhance antigen-specific activation, and increase persistence and proliferation. To date, there are five distinct generations of CAR-T cells.

If you’ve engineered a more sophisticated CAR than your competitors, once again you’ll need to validate the scientific rationale behind it. It’s not enough to simply explain the modifications that were made to the CAR and why they matter to the overall safety and efficacy of the treatment. You’ll want to share data from previous generation and approved CAR-T therapies to help investors connect the dots and understand the potential of your next generation CAR-T.

Cell processing

Whether you’re developing an autologous or allogenic CAR-T, manufacturing CAR-T cells is a complex process that is highly-regulated and time-consuming. Managing the establishment and approval of a successful manufacturing protocol is a huge accomplishment and often involves intellectual property and extensive industry know-how that sets companies apart from the competition.

If your company has perfected a CAR-T manufacturing process, then focus on the distinctive details of your optimized system. When presenting, be deliberate and lead your audience through each step, taking time to expand on the areas that diverge from the typical methods and highlight how your team overcame challenges that derailed other organizations. Don’t forget to emphasize how your internal know-how was used to finetune the process to better support your process.

Conclusion

Whatever your unique scientific or technical approach to CAR-T therapy is, you want to make it clear to investors. At Theoria we work with clients in various therapeutic areas, including cell and gene therapies. We help you communicate with investors by combining the power of clear messages and simple graphics.