Cartesian Therapeutics – Pioneering mRNA-Engineered Cell Therapy

Dr. Murat Kalayoglu, President and CEO at Cartesian Therapeutics discusses the company’s proprietary cell therapy platform called RNA Armory℠ that enables mRNA-engineering of any cell with any combination of therapies to target any tissue. Cartesian engineers mRNA into cells, making impermanent changes and making cells that have predictable lives within the body. The RNA Armory℠  has generated a robust pipeline of differentiated therapies for autoimmune, oncologic, and respiratory disorders, with three therapies currently in clinical trial. Descartes-08, the first CAR T-cell therapy for autoimmune disease, is in a clinical trial for generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG). Descartes -11, the first CAR T-cell therapy designed for frontline cancer, is in a clinical trial for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Descartes -30, the first engineered cell therapy for respiratory diseases in clinical trial for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS; including COVID-19 ARDS).

Dr. Kalayoglu is President and CEO at Cartesian Therapeutics. Prior to Cartesian, Dr. Kalayoglu was co-founder and CEO of Topokine, which he led from concept to late-stage clinical trials, followed by a successful sale to Allergan. Dr. Kalayoglu was also co-founder and COO of HealthHonors Corporation, which he led from concept to commercialization, followed by a successful sale to Healthways. Dr. Kalayoglu is a board-certified ophthalmologist who completed his residency and research Fellowship at Harvard, MD/PhD in immunology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.