Vyriad targets 2026 clinical trial for new experimental cell therapy VV169
Preclinical data show complete clearance of myeloma tumors in mouse models
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VV169, an experimental cellular therapy being developed by Vyriad to treat myeloma, is expected to enter clinical testing in 2026, the company announced.
Earlier this month at the 67th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), Vyriad presented preclinical data showing that VV169 completely cleared myeloma tumors in 100% of treated animals in laboratory studies.
“While we have recently seen remarkable proof-of-concept for in vivo CAR T in heavily pretreated multiple myeloma, the next hurdle is eliminating infusional toxicities, so that we can truly unlock the promise of this modality. Our singular focus is solving this technology challenge, and the data presented at ASH demonstrate Vyriad’s strong and rapid progress,” Stephen Russell, MD, PhD, CEO of Vyriad, said in a company press release.
How VV169 uses the immune system to target myeloma
VV169 is a CAR T-cell therapy. T-cells are immune cells that can kill cancer cells, while a CAR, or chimeric antigen receptor, is a laboratory-engineered signaling protein that directs T-cells to attack a specific molecular target. Several CAR T-cell therapies, including Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel) and Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), are approved in the U.S. to treat myeloma.
Traditional CAR T-cell therapies use an ex vivo process, meaning T-cells are removed from a patient, genetically modified in a laboratory to carry the CAR, and then infused back into the body. This approach can be time-consuming, complex, and costly.
VV169 is designed as an in vivo CAR T-cell therapy. Instead of removing and modifying T-cells outside the body, it uses a specially engineered virus to deliver a gene encoding the CAR directly to T-cells inside the patient. The viral vector is designed to selectively target T-cells, and the CAR gene is engineered to be active only in those cells. According to Vyriad, these safeguards are intended to limit off-target effects and support a safer, more precise approach. The CAR used in VV169 targets a myeloma protein called BCMA, the same protein targeted by Abecma and Carvykti.
“We are advancing our vectors’ targeting, transduction and safety capabilities to ensure this new generation of in vivo CAR T therapies carries the field’s momentum forward,” Russell said.
In preclinical studies, a single intravenous dose of VV169 led to complete clearance of disseminated myeloma tumors in 100% of treated humanized mice within about one month. The animals remained tumor-free for several months and when more cancer cells were injected into their bodies, their immune systems were able to eliminate them efficiently. According to Vyriad, safety data showed the treatment was well tolerated in the mice.
