—MultiTAA T cell therapies continue to demonstrate positive clinical data across multiple indications in investigator-sponsored trials—
—Marker plans IND submission for Company-sponsored Phase 2 AML study in the third quarter, with first patient enrolled by the end of 2019—
—First update in the solid tumor program planned for second quarter—
—Company to host business update call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. EDT—
Houston, TX –March 28, 2019– Marker Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications, today provided a business and clinical update, as well as an overview of upcoming milestones for 2019.
“Our MultiTAA T cell therapies have continued to generate positive and compelling clinical data across various indications in several ongoing investigator-sponsored clinical trials led by Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). We plan to advance a Phase 2 Company-sponsored clinical trial in post-transplant acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—a disease area and patient population for which there are limited treatment options. We expect to finalize our clinical trial protocol in AML by the end of the second quarter of 2019 and to submit our IND in the third quarter, with the first patient enrolled by the end of the year,” said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker Therapeutics.
Continued Mr. Hoang: “While our T cell therapies remain our primary clinical focus, we are also advancing our T cell vaccine candidates, TPIV200 and TPIV100/110, for the treatment of ovarian and breast cancers. Overall, there are two Phase 2 Company-sponsored studies ongoing for TPIV200 in triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and we anticipate reporting interim data from the ovarian cancer Phase 2 study in Q4 2019.”
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS AND CURRENT UPDATES
Multi-Antigen Targeted (MultiTAA) T Cell Therapies
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Data
Lymphoma Data
As reported in January, 2019:
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Data
As reported at ASBMT and CIBMTR in February:
Multiple Myeloma Data
As the Company reported in January, 2019, ten patients with active disease have been treated, including:
T Cell Based Vaccines
Ovarian Cancer Data
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Data
Marker continues to advance the development of its proprietary PolyStart™ platform, a nucleic acid-based technology with the potential to increase the potency of our vaccines by conferring a four-fold increase in expression of target-cell-specific, naturally processed antigenic epitopes on a cell’s surface. This approach boosts helper and/or long-lived killer T cells, enabling their potential to effectively seek out and destroy target cells.
CASH POSITION AND GUIDANCE
Marker reported cash and cash equivalents totaling $61.7 million as of December 31, 2018. Based on current operating plans, Marker expects that current cash resources will be sufficient to meet operating requirements into Q4 of 2020.
UPCOMING NEAR-TERM POTENTIAL MILESTONES
Pre-IND discussions for AML with the U.S. FDA in Q2;
First update in solid tumor program in Q2 concurrently with a major medical meeting;
IND submission for Company-sponsored Phase 2 AML study in Q3, with first patient enrolled by end of 2019;
Interim analysis readout in the TPIV200 ovarian trial in Q4;
Overall update on ongoing clinical trials in cell therapy at end of 2019.
Business Update Call and Webcast
Marker management will host business update conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. EDT. To access the call, participants should dial 1-855-238-2333 (domestic) or 1-412-317-5215 (international) and refer to the “Marker Therapeutics, Inc. call.” The webcast will be accessible in the Investors section of the Company’s website at markertherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available for replay on the Marker website approximately two hours after the event.
About Marker Therapeutics, Inc.
Marker Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications. Marker’s cell therapy technology is based on the selective expansion of non-engineered, tumor-specific T cells that recognize tumor associated antigens (i.e. tumor targets) and kill tumor cells expressing those targets. Once infused into patients, this population of T cells attacks multiple tumor targets and acts to activate the patient’s immune system to produce broad spectrum anti-tumor activity. Because Marker does not genetically engineer its T cells, when compared to current engineered CAR-T and TCR-based approaches, its products (i) are significantly less expensive and easier to manufacture, (ii) appear to be markedly less toxic, and (iii) are associated with meaningful clinical benefit. As a result, Marker believes its portfolio of T cell therapies has a compelling therapeutic product profile, as compared to current gene-modified CAR-T and TCR-based therapies.
Marker is also advancing a number of innovative peptide- and gene-based immuno-therapeutics for the treatment of metastatic solid tumors, including the Folate Receptor Alpha program (TPIV200) for breast and ovarian cancers and the HER2/neu program (TPIV100/110) for breast cancer, currently in Phase II clinical trials. In parallel, we are developing a proprietary DNA expression technology named PolyStart™ that can enhance the ability of the immune system to recognize and destroy diseased cells.
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Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release concerning the Company’s expectations, plans, business outlook or future performance, and any other statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: our research and development activities relating to our non-engineered multi-tumor antigen specific T cell therapies; our TPIV200 and TPIV100/110 programs and our PolyStart™ program; the effectiveness of these programs or the possible range of application and potential curative effects and safety in the treatment of diseases; and, the timing and success of our clinical trials, as well as clinical trials conducted by our collaborators. Forward-looking statements are by their nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to the risks set forth in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and other SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.
Contacts
Marker Therapeutics, Inc.
Aaron Santos
(904) 862-6490
investor.relations@nullmarkertherapeutics.com
Solebury Trout
Brad Miles
(646) 513-3125
bmiles@nullsoleburytrout.com
– or –
Amy Bonanno
(914) 450-0349
abonanno@nullsoleburytrout.com