Orca-T and Orca-Q are emerging cell therapies that may improve outcomes in blood cancer transplants while reducing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), according to Sagar S. Patel of Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Orca-T is being tested in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly older or frail individuals who cannot tolerate intensive treatment. A Phase 2 trial is evaluating a lower-intensity approach. If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Orca-T could simplify transplants by using a single therapy to prevent GVHD.
Orca-Q targets patients without fully matched donors by using half-matched donors. Early Phase 1 results presented at the Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings 2026 showed a 77% overall survival rate at three years, no moderate-to-severe GVHD in the first year, and strong engraftment. Together, these therapies could expand safer transplant options for more patients.