London:Cartesian Therapeutics on Tuesday that its experimental therapy helped ease symptoms of a rare, immune-related disorder, meeting its main goal. Mid-stage study,

This therapy is called ‘ descartes-08 have a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, or CAR-T cell therapyto treat patients myasthenia gravis – One autoimmune disorder causing incapacity muscle weakness and fatigue.

According to the National Institutes of Health, myasthenia gravis affects about 20 per 100,000 people in the United States.

The company said the therapy showed statistical significance in reducing the severity of symptoms, as measured by a disease severity scale, in 71 per cent of patients at three months, compared to 25 per cent in those who were given a placebo.

The trial enrolled 36 heavily pre-treated, highly symptomatic patients who received either Descartes-08 or placebo as six weekly doses.

The company said Descartes-08, unlike other DNA-based CAR-T cell therapies, is designed to be given as an outpatient treatment without the need for any pre-conditioning chemotherapy.

The current standard of care for this disorder involves the use of steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs.

Drugs approved for this condition include Argenx SE’s subcutaneous injection, Vivagart Hytrulo, and AstraZeneca’s intravenous injection, Soliris.

In addition, Cartesian struck a financing deal to raise $130 million under which it will sell some shares of its common stock at $20 per share. Cartesian shares fell 14.3 percent to $20.80 in premarket trading.

(Reporting by Sneha SK in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)