Caribou Biosciences Announces Appointment of Sundar Jagannath, MD, to its Scientific Advisory Board

-- Dr. Jagannath is a renowned expert in the research and treatment of multiple myeloma --

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Caribou Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRBU), a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company, today announced the appointment of Sundar Jagannath, MD, to its scientific advisory board. With four decades of experience, Dr. Jagannath is a renowned expert in bone marrow transplantation and treating patients with multiple myeloma, and he is the director of the Center of Excellence for Multiple Myeloma at The Tisch Cancer Institute and professor of medicine, hematology and medical oncology, at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

“We are honored to have Dr. Jagannath join our scientific advisory board. Dr. Jagannath is a distinguished oncologist who is renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of multiple myeloma,” said Syed Rizvi, MD, Caribou’s chief medical officer. “Dr. Jagannath has a stellar reputation as a compassionate physician and researcher, whose guidance will be invaluable to Caribou as we advance the CaMMouflage Phase 1 trial for CB-011, our allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy, for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.”

With a medical career spanning over 40 years, Dr. Jagannath is a distinguished leader in multiple myeloma and bone marrow transplantation. His clinical and translational research has resulted in more than 180 peer reviewed articles, 150 abstracts, and 30 book chapters. After earning his medical degree and training, Dr. Jagannath completed a medical oncology fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Prior to Mount Sinai, New York, he also served at University of Arkansas and Saint Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, in leadership roles in the myeloma programs.

“Caribou’s differentiated approach in using chRDNA genome-editing technology to armor CAR-T cell therapies for improved antitumor activity is very promising,” said Dr. Jagannath. “I look forward to advising on the development of CB-011 as off-the-shelf and readily available treatment in multiple myeloma. We urgently need such treatment options for patients living with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.”

About CB-011
CB-011 is a product candidate from Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform and is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in the CaMMouflage Phase 1 trial. CB-011 is an allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy engineered using Cas12a chRDNA genome-editing technology. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-011 is the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy in the clinic that is engineered to improve antitumor activity through an immune cloaking strategy with a B2M knockout and insertion of a B2M–HLA-E fusion protein to blunt immune-mediated rejection. CB-011 has been granted Fast Track designation by the FDA. Additional information on the CaMMouflage trial (NCT05722418) can be found at clinicaltrials.gov.

About Caribou’s novel next-generation CRISPR platform
CRISPR genome editing uses easily designed, modular biological tools to make DNA changes in living cells. There are two basic components of Class 2 CRISPR systems: the nuclease protein that cuts DNA and the RNA molecule(s) that guide the nuclease to generate a site-specific, double-stranded break, leading to an edit at the targeted genomic site. CRISPR systems are capable of editing unintended genomic sites, known as off-target editing, which may lead to harmful effects on cellular function and phenotype. In response to this challenge, Caribou has developed CRISPR hybrid RNA-DNA guides (chRDNAs; pronounced “chardonnays”) that direct substantially more precise genome editing compared to all-RNA guides. Caribou is deploying the power of its Cas12a chRDNA technology to carry out high efficiency multiple edits, including multiplex gene insertions, to develop CRISPR-edited therapies.

About Caribou Biosciences, Inc.
Caribou Biosciences is a clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing transformative therapies for patients with devastating diseases. The company’s genome-editing platform, including its Cas12a chRDNA technology, enables superior precision to develop cell therapies that are armored to potentially improve antitumor activity. Caribou is advancing a pipeline of off-the-shelf cell therapies from its CAR-T and CAR-NK platforms as readily available treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Follow us @CaribouBio and visit www.cariboubio.com.

Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to Caribou’s strategy, plans, and objectives, and expectations regarding its clinical and preclinical development programs. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks inherent in the development of cell therapy products; uncertainties related to the initiation, cost, timing, progress, and results of Caribou’s current and future research and development programs, preclinical studies, and clinical trials; and the risk that initial, preliminary, or interim clinical trial data will not ultimately be predictive of the safety and efficacy of Caribou’s product candidates or that clinical outcomes may differ as patient enrollment continues and as more patient data becomes available; the risk that preclinical study results observed will not be borne out in human patients or different conclusions or considerations are reached once additional data have been received and fully evaluated; as well as other risk factors described from time to time in Caribou’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and subsequent filings. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Except as required by law, Caribou undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Caribou Biosciences, Inc. contacts:
Investors:
Amy Figueroa, CFA
investor.relations@cariboubio.com 

Media:
Peggy Vorwald, PhD
media@cariboubio.com