The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) recently awarded $8 million to Rochelle Emery, MD, at Senti Bio to advance a clinical trial for a novel therapy targeting two forms of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
About AML and MDS
Both cancers have a five‑year survival rate of about 32 percent. Patients with relapsing or recurring AML face a particularly poor prognosis, with median survival of only three to six months despite available chemotherapy or clinical trial options.
About 20,000 Americans develop AML each year. The disease begins in the bone marrow and quickly spreads into the bloodstream. Many more people are affected by MDS, a group of blood disorders that disrupt normal blood cell production and function.
CIRM’s support
CIRM’s award will support developing a new therapy that uses gene‑modified, logic‑gated natural killer (NK) cells. These will be use to help patients fight these cancers. This targeted approach aims to deliver a durable, effective treatment and extend life expectancy for people with relapsing or recurring AML.
“We are excited to advance clinical research for AML and MDS,” says Dr. Abla Creasey.
Creasey, who is Vice President of Therapeutics Development at CIRM, added “This therapy shows strong potential to improve outcomes and offer new hope to patients.”
CIRM remains committed to advancing groundbreaking science and delivering regenerative medicine treatments equitably. Developing this NK cell therapy marks a major step toward that mission and offers meaningful progress for people affected by AML and MDS.
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