Results from the first-in-humans (FIH) STAR-101 clinical study (NCT05568680), an ongoing, open-label multicenter Phase 1 clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of SynKIR™-110 in patients with advanced mesothelin-expressing tumors. will be highlighted during the 17th International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig) 2025 Conference, held October 26 – 29, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
The Funds will support cell, gene, and regenerative medicine therapy
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer, with more than 2,500 people diagnosed annually in the United States and 30,000 globally. [1]
Exposure to asbestos causes most cases of mesothelioma. [2] Asbestos was used in many consumer products, automobile parts, and building materials in the 20th century before scientists learned of its health dangers. The potential for asbestos exposure in the United States peaked in the 1970s but has since declined as U.S. asbestos mines were closed and asbestos-containing products and materials were withdrawn from the market.
The decline in asbestos exposure is reflected by declines in mesothelioma incidence rates. However, people can still be exposed to asbestos in some consumer products and older buildings.
Prognosis remains Poor
Despite recent therapeutic advances, prognosis remains poor, and most patients face limited options for long-term treatment.
SynKIR™-110, developed by Verismo Therapeutics and based on the company’s multi-chain KIR-CAR platform, targets mesothelin, a protein highly expressed on mesothelioma cells and a validated target for innovative immunotherapies, enabling it to recognize and attack cancer cells. SynKIR™-110 was granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of mesothelioma in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Difficult to treat
“Mesothelioma is one of the most difficult cancers to treat, and it has historically been underserved in terms of new treatment development,” said Daniel Sterman, M.D., Thomas and Suzanne Murphy Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Director of Division of Pulmonary Medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center and an organizer of iMig 2025.
“By sponsoring iMig and presenting the STAR-101 trial design, Verismo is demonstrating its commitment to advancing the science, addressing the unmet medical need, and supporting the global mesothelioma community,” noted Sterman, who serves as the Medical Monitor for Verismo’s STAR-101 clinical study.
Verismo’s sponsorship of iMig 2025 underscores its dedication not only to scientific innovation but also to supporting patients, clinicians, and advocates working to advance care in mesothelioma worldwide.
Presentation Details:
- Title: SynKIR-CAR T Cell Advanced Research (STAR)-101 Phase 1 Clinical Trial for Patients with Advanced Mesothelin-expressing Mesothelioma, Ovarian Cancer, or Cholangiocarcinoma
- Session: Novel Combinations and Applications of Immunotherapy; Salon E
- Date/Time: Monday, October 27, 2025, 2:30 – 2:45 PM
- Presenter: Jun Xu, Ph.D., Executive Director of Translational Science, Verismo Therapeutics
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Clinical trials
SynKIR-110 for Mesothelin Expressing Ovarian Cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma or Mesothelioma – ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05568680
Reference
[1] Incidence of Malignant Mesothelioma. United States Cancer Statistics, CDC, Online. last accessed October 1, 2025.
[2] Health Effects of Asbestos. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. CDC. Online. Last accessed on October 1, 2025.
Featured image: Doctor examining a lung radiograph. Photo courtesy: © 2017 – 2025 Fotolia/Adobe. Used with permission.
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