Bivalent CD47 Immunotoxin for Targeted Therapy of T-ALL in kids
Official title: Bivalent CD47 Immunotoxin for Targeted Therapy of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Funded at Rock Immune, INC. · NIH-11310680 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new targeted therapy using a two-part CD47-directed toxin is being studied for children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have limited treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rock Immune, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R41CA309908-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11310680 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents with T-ALL or related CD47-expressing leukemias who have limited responses to standard therapies and are eligible for experimental treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose leukemia does not express high levels of CD47 or who cannot tolerate the immunotoxin could see little or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a targeted treatment for pediatric T-ALL that aims to attack leukemia cells while reducing harm to normal tissues. The therapy uses a bi-CD47 immunotoxin that combines two anti-CD47 binding units with a truncated diphtheria toxin to specifically target CD47-expressing cancer cells. It builds on strong preclinical data from cell lines and both mouse and patient-derived tumor models showing promising activity. The study is designed to advance toward clinical testing by further validating safety and efficacy in relevant models before potential human trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a more precise treatment option for children with T-ALL and potentially reduce chemotherapy-related toxicity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous preclinical studies in human T-ALL models showed significant disease control with CD47-targeted strategies, supporting this approach's potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Rock Immune, INC.
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zhirui — Rock Immune, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zhirui
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.