On November 9, 2023 TScan Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cell therapies (TCR-T) for the treatment of patients with cancer, reported financial results and provided a corporate update for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 (Press release, TScan Therapeutics, NOV 9, 2023, View Source [SID1234637426]).
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"During the third quarter we made meaningful progress across both our heme and solid tumor programs and plan to share initial results from our heme program on six to eight patients treated with TCR-T, as well as several control arm patients, at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December," said Gavin MacBeath, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. "With the recent FDA clearance of our IND for TSC-203-A0201 targeting PRAME, we remain committed to populating the ImmunoBank with TCRs that address different targets and HLA types to expand the reach of multiplexed TCR-T cell therapy. We are currently on track to file two additional INDs by the end of the year and further expand the ImmunoBank in 2024. TScan is funded to execute on upcoming anticipated milestones into 2026, by which time we expect to have duration of response data for patients treated with multiplex therapy in the solid tumor program and two-year relapse data for patients in the heme program."
Recent Corporate Highlights
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TScan will present a poster at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exposition taking place in San Diego, CA, and online, December 9–12, 2023:
Title: Initial Results of a Phase 1 Trial of TSC-100 and TSC-101, Engineered T Cell Therapies That Target Minor Histocompatibility Antigens to Prevent Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Authors: Monzr Al Malki, Alla Keyzner, Hyung C. Suh, Aasiya Matin, Erica Buonomo, Yun Wang, Nina Abelowitz, Jim Murray, Gavin MacBeath, Debora Barton, Shrikanta Chattopadhyay, Ran Reshef
Publication Number: 2090
Session Name: 704. Cellular Immunotherapies: Early Phase and Investigational Therapies: Poster I
Session Date & Time: Saturday, December 9, 2023; 5:30–7:30 p.m. PT
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Halls G-H
The Company will host a virtual KOL event featuring Monzr M. Al Malki, M.D., on Monday, December 11, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the data presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper). Dr. Al Malki is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Director of the Unrelated Donor Bone Marrow Transplant and Haploidentical Transplant Programs at City of Hope. Details for attending the event can be found here.
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During the third quarter, TScan announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its investigational new drug (IND) application for TSC-203-A0201, a TCR-T targeting PReferentially expressed Antigen in Melanoma (PRAME). TSC-203-A0201 is TScan’s fourth TCR-T cell product cleared for use in its solid tumor program.
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This month, TScan presented six posters at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 38th Annual Meeting. Notable highlights include TScan’s solid tumor Phase 1 trial design supporting a separate screening protocol to identify patients ahead of disease progression, and the disclosure of the previously undisclosed target of TSC-201-B0702 as MAGE-C2. Copies of the presentation materials can be found on the "Publications" section of the Company’s website at www.tscan.com.
Upcoming Anticipated Clinical Milestones
Heme Malignancies Program: TScan’s two lead TCR-T cell therapy candidates, TSC-100 and TSC-101, are designed to target HA-1 and HA-2, respectively, to treat residual disease and prevent relapse in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients undergoing allogeneic haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). (NCT05473910)
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Expects to reach the recommended Phase 2 dose for both TSC-100 and TSC-101 and report interim clinical data for the program by the end of 2023.
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Plans to complete Phase 1 dosing and report prevention of relapse data in 2024.
Solid Tumor Program: TScan remains committed to populating the ImmunoBank, its collection of therapeutic TCRs across novel and validated targets as well as different HLA types, to overcome tumor heterogeneity and address resistance that can arise from HLA loss with multiplexed therapy.
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Anticipates further expansion of the ImmunoBank with IND filings for two additional TCR-Ts by year-end 2023.
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Plans to initiate Phase 1 solid tumor clinical study and enroll the first patient by year-end 2023.
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Expects to report initial multiplexed therapy data for its first combinations of TCR-Ts under T-Plex, as well as response data for singleplex cohorts, in 2024.
Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results
As of September 30, 2023, TScan Therapeutics had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $215.4 million, excluding $5.0 million of restricted cash. Based on current operating
plans, the Company believes that existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2026.
Revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, was $3.9 million, compared to $3.4 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 (2022 Quarter). This increase is primarily due to timing of research activities related to the collaboration agreement with Amgen in the second quarter of 2023 versus timing of research activities related to a collaboration and license agreement with Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Inc. in the 2022 Quarter.
Research and development expenses for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, were $22.7 million, compared to $15.0 million for the 2022 Quarter. The increase of $7.7 million was primarily driven by increased costs associated with clinical trial start-up fees and patient enrollment, increased personnel costs, and expansion of facilities.
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, were $5.9 million, compared to $4.9 million for the 2022 Quarter. The increase of $1.0 million in general and administrative expenses was primarily driven by increased legal and professional fees.
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, TScan Therapeutics reported a net loss of $23.0 million, compared to a net loss of $16.2 million for the 2022 Quarter.
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had issued and outstanding shares of 47,823,116, which consists of 43,546,528 shares of voting common stock and 4,276,588 shares of non-voting common stock, and outstanding pre-funded warrants to purchase 47,010,526 shares of voting common stock at an exercise price of $0.0001 per share.