OxLDL-Targeted CAR Tregs Cut Mouse Plaque 70% in Penn Study, Prompting Cartio Therapeutics

Overview

• Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania reported peer-reviewed preclinical results in Circulation on November 21.
• In hyperlipidemic mice treated for about 12 weeks, atherosclerotic plaque burden fell by roughly 70% without detectable disruption of general immune function.
• Lab assays using human cells showed the engineered cells suppressed OxLDL-driven inflammation and reduced foam-cell formation.
• The approach engineers regulatory T cells to recognize oxidized LDL and locally damp inflammation within arterial walls.
• Penn investigators formed Cartio Therapeutics to advance the program toward human trials, positioning it as an add-on for patients with residual inflammatory risk.