The Philadelphia-based biotechnology company Verismo Therapeutics presented preclinical research data that its novel KIR-CAR immunotherapy technology showed enhanced anti-tumor activity in patients with mesothelioma.
Verismo unveiled results from a study on Nov. 6, 2026 at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 41st Annual Meeting in Phoenix. The set of preclinical results evaluated Verismo’s Killer Immunoglobin Receptor (KIR)-based CAR therapy against more conventional CAR T therapy, with the KIR-CAR results showing higher levels of tumor control, reduced cytokine activity, and lower T-cell exhaustion in mesothelioma.
“These preclinical head-to-head findings reinforce the mechanistic rationale behind the multi-chain KIR-CAR platform — that separating antigen binding from T cell activation can meaningfully reduce tonic signaling and non-specific off-target activity associated with conventional single-chain CAR T designs, without compromising antitumor control,” said Verismo Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer Laura Johnson in a release.
More on the KIR-CAR Trial for Mesothelioma
Verismo has been trialing their KIR-CAR model – referred to as SynKIR-110 – in the ongoing STAR-101 trial, which presented its first set of in-human results in April at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting.
KIR-CAR is a new spin on the immunotherapy method known as CAR T-cell therapy (CAR T), in which the body’s own T-cells – a key part of the immune system – are collected, genetically modified to enhance their effectiveness, multiplied and then reinfused into a patient’s body in order to fight cancer. In recent years, mesothelioma and other solid tumor cancers have become a key point of CAR T study.
KIR-CAR differs from more conventional CAR T therapy by fusing a mesothelin-targeting binder to the natural killer immune cell immune-receptor KIR2DS2. According to Verismo, this allows for a greater capacity to directly target mesothelin-expressing tumors such as mesothelioma.
In their set of results presented at SITC, Verismo touted that their KIR-CAR method finished first among three CAR T designs studied in tumor control and T cell exhaustion, while also showing good safety indicators.
“Seeing SynKIR-110 deliver the fastest tumor control among the three CAR T architectures tested, with substantially lower cytokine production versus CD28-based single-chain CAR T, reduced T cell exhaustion markers compared with both single-chain comparators, and no off-target accumulation in healthy lung tissue, supports the differentiated safety and efficacy profile we are now evaluating in the ongoing STAR-101 clinical trial in patients with mesothelin-expressing solid tumors,” Johnson said.
Next Steps for KIR-CAR in Mesothelioma
These results built upon the results presented earlier in the year at AACR, which showed tumor reduction in a cohort of nine patients with mesothelin-expressing solid tumors, including mesothelioma. Verismo aims to produce a therapy that can more efficiently eliminate tumors with reduced T cell exhaustion and better safety profile than existing immunotherapies.
The STAR-101 trial is continuing to its next phase, with a dose escalation exercise currently underway in order to find a recommended dose for Phase 2.
Meanwhile, Verismo has already received Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SynKIR-110, which could lead to a much quicker approval and availability once it is ready for market.
Sources & Author
- Verismo Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data at SITC 2026 Demonstrating Enhanced Tumor Control and Reduced Cytokine Release with SynKIR™-110 KIR-CAR Compared to Conventional CAR T. Verismo Therapeutics Press Release. Retrieved from https://www.streetinsider.com/PRNewswire/Verismo+Therapeutics+Presents+Preclinical+Data+at+SITC+2026+Demonstrating+Enhanced+Tumor+Control+and+Reduced+Cytokine+Release+with+SynKIR%E2%84%A2-110+KIR-CAR+Compared+to+Conventional+CAR+T/27283959.html. Accessed on 11/06/2026.
- 253 Mesothelin-targeted multi-chain killer immunoglobulin receptor (KIR)-based CAR T reduces exhaustion, cytokine release, and enhances safety profile in vivo vs CD28 or 41BB single-chain CAR T. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer. Retrieved from https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.TPS5630. Accessed on 11/06/2026.
