Rimiducid

Rimiducid binds to a drug binding domain derived from human FK506-binding protein which is present on a modified form of inducible caspase-9. This binding results in dimerization and subsequent activation of caspase-9. This system was designed to function as a "safety switch" in CAR T-cell therapy used in hematological cancers. Retroviral vectors used in production of these modified cells preferentially integrate this gene nearby promoters associated with T-cell activation. This results in higher expression of the modified inducible caspase-9 product in activated T-cells. In practice, this allows for specific targeting of these active T-cells by rimiducid which results in a decrease in circulating cell numbers of over 90% in the setting of graft versus host disease. This specificity spares non-alloreactive T-cells and allows for successful reconstitution of the transplanted immune system from these cells.[24753538] Additionally, these non-alloreactive cells retain their sensitivity to rimiducid.