Carisma Takes Its CAR-M Approach In Solid Tumors Public Via Sesen Merger

Merging with the shell of troubled cancer biotech Sesen, Carisma believes its chimeric antigen-receptor-macrophage (CAR-M) platform can bring the immunotherapy application to solid tumors.

TME
Carisma says CAR-M therapies can work effectively in the tumor microenvironment • Source: Shutterstock

Focused on a chimeric antigen receptor-macrophage (CAR-M) technology that it believes can offer therapeutic benefit in solid tumors where CAR T-cell products have failed, Carisma Therapeutics Inc. announced on 21 September that it will make its way into the public market, out-vying 41 other companies to reverse-merge with troubled Sesen Bio, Inc. Valuation of the merger was not disclosed, but the deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter, would result in Sesen shareholders owning about 42% of the merged company and Carisma shareholders 58%.

Sesen has been winding down since receiving a US Food and Drug Administration complete response letter in August 2021 that...

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