Bispecific Vγ9Vδ2-T and Type 1 NKT Cell Engager Lava-051 As First-in-Class Clinical Candidate to Target CD1d Expressing CLL, MM and AML

Background. Bispecific antibodies that target tumors by engaging innate-like T cell subsets with inherent antitumor activity, such as Vγ9Vδ2-T and type 1 natural killer T (NKT) cells, may combine high therapeutic efficacy with limited off-tumor toxicity. Type 1 NKT cells respond to self and foreign (glyco)lipid antigens presented in the context of the MHC class I like molecule CD1d which is expressed on various malignancies. Vγ9Vδ2-T cells respond to intracellular accumulation of phosphoantigens in cancer cells by sensing conformational alterations in the butyrophilin (BTN) 2A1-3A1 complex. CD1d is expressed by the majority of patients with CLL and MM, while expression in AML is most pronounced on (myelo)monocytic subtypes.