Sensei Biotherapeutics
Sensei Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company headquartered in Rockville, MD, with an additional office in Boston, MA, focused on developing conditionally active antibodies for cancer treatment.
Headquarters and Locations
Sensei Biotherapeutics is headquartered at 1405 Research Blvd, Suite 125, Rockville, MD 20850. The company also operates an additional office at 22 Boston Wharf Rd, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02210. These locations support the company's operations in developing innovative therapies for the tumor microenvironment.
Innovative Antibody Development
Sensei Biotherapeutics specializes in developing conditionally active antibodies designed to function selectively in the tumor microenvironment. Their TMAb platform enables highly selective targeting through conditional antibody activation of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. This approach aims to increase the amount of drug reaching the tumor while avoiding on-target, off-tumor activity, and minimizing toxic side effects.
Pipeline of Investigational Therapies
Sensei Biotherapeutics has developed a pipeline of investigational therapies aimed at working selectively in the tumor microenvironment. This includes SNS-101, a conditionally active, human monoclonal IgG1 antibody designed to block the VISTA checkpoint, and currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Other pipeline products include SNS-102, targeting VSIG4, SNS-103, targeting ENTPDase1 (CD39), and SNS-201, designed to conditionally activate CD28 under low pH conditions found in the tumor microenvironment.
Clinical Trials and Collaborations
Sensei Biotherapeutics has initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate SNS-101 as both monotherapy and in combination with Regeneron’s anti-PD-1 therapy Libtayo®️ (cemiplimab) in patients with advanced solid tumors. The company has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute to further its research and development efforts.
Mechanism of Action
Sensei Biotherapeutics’ TMAb platform creates conditionally active antibodies that selectively activate within the low-pH tumor microenvironment. For example, SNS-101 is designed to bind only in the low pH of the tumor microenvironment, blocking the binding of VISTA to the T cell protein PSGL-1 and binding to Fc gamma receptors on myeloid cells. This mechanism prevents checkpoint suppression of T cells and increases anti-tumor activity, encouraging T cell penetration and killing activity to turn cold tumors hot.