ADI-212: Immune Cells Engineered to Beat Advanced Prostate Cancer

ADI-212 is a new type of immune cell therapy made from gamma delta T cells, the kind of immune cells that naturally go after tumors. These cells are specially engineered to attack PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

The therapy has two smart upgrades. First, it carries a special version of IL-12, a powerful immune signal, stuck to its surface. This only turns on when the cells find PSMA on cancer cells, releasing the signal right at the tumor to wake up other immune cells and fight off the tumor’s defenses like regulatory T cells and tumor-friendly macrophages. Second, scientists used CRISPR gene editing to remove MED12, a protein that normally holds back T cell growth and energy production. This makes the cells multiply much faster and stay active longer with better killing power.

The targeting part uses a new antibody piece that locks onto a specific 3D shape on PSMA proteins only when they’re paired up as dimers on cancer cells, unlike therapies like J591 that grab a simpler straight-line spot on PSMA.

Lab tests showed ADI-212 killed cancer cells from two prostate cancer types (22Rv1 and PC3-PSMA) over six rounds of attack without getting tired, while regular CAR-T cells wore out. It released helpful immune signals but fewer harmful inflammation chemicals. Even when mixed with tumor-suppressing cells, it kept working thanks to the IL-12 boost.

In mice with human prostate tumors, one injection completely shrank tumors and stopped new ones from growing even 15 days later when rechallenged, showing lasting protection. Cell production is efficient too, with high purity and strong editing.

Clinical testing in humans starts soon after a planned filing in the first half of 2026. This approach combines direct cancer killing, local immune boosting, and tumor environment remodeling for patients who’ve run out of standard options.

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