On April 22, 2016 Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:ADAP), a leader in the use of TCR engineered T-cell therapy to treat cancer, reported that they have hosted an Investor and Analyst meeting in New York and presented clinical and corporate updates that included progress with pipeline development and manufacturing process optimization (Press release, Adaptimmune, APR 22, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2159734 [SID:1234511272]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"At today’s event, we were delighted to present an overview of our T-cell therapy and Adaptimmune’s position within the exciting immune-oncology field," said James Noble, Chief Executive Officer. "We also reported on our upcoming goals and took the opportunity to announce MAGE-A4 as the company’s next target with the objective of achieving IND acceptance in 2017."

The presentations included updates on the company’s synovial sarcoma and multiple myeloma studies, as well as on progress with optimization of manufacturing processes and the construction of a dedicated manufacturing plant in Philadelphia scheduled to open in 2017.

Adaptimmune also announced the establishment of its scientific advisory board, to be chaired by cancer immunotherapy expert, Crystal Mackall, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine and Associate Director of the Stanford Cancer Institute, and the adoption of the name SPEAR T-cells (Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor T-cells) to describe its proprietary technology.

In addition to James Noble, CEO, the presenters were:

Helen Tayton-Martin Ph.D., MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Adaptimmune
Bent Jakobsen, Ph.D., Scientific Founder, Adaptimmune
Stephan Grupp, M.D., Ph.D, Novotny Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Aaron Rapoport, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Gary Jobson Professor in Medical Oncology, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center
Rafael Amado, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Adaptimmune
Gwendolyn Binder-Scholl, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Adaptimmune
A summary of clinical and corporate highlights presented at the Investor and Analyst Day is set out below. The slide presentation and a replay of the webcast from the event will be available on the company’s website for 30 days following the event at ir.adaptimmune.com.

Clinical and corporate highlights through April 2016:

Proprietary SPEAR T-cell technology that uniquely delivers:
Correctly identified targets
Specificity and optimal affinity TCRs
‘Supra-natural’ TCRs to accelerate programs
Enhanced effectiveness of TCRs: Generation 2 and 3
Multiple clinical responses in synovial sarcoma, a solid tumor
New images presented showing resolution of large solid lesions
Cohort 2 suggests responses in low expressers
Cohort 3 suggests importance of fludarabine
Cohort 4 starting shortly

Over 90% response rate in multiple myeloma study in conjunction with ASCT
Median overall survival of ~3 years (as of January 2016)
Pivotal studies in sarcoma to start in 4Q16/1Q17
Company INDs open for NY-ESO, MAGE-A10 and AFP
Next IND in 2017: MAGE-A4
Generation 2 INDs from 2017

These TCRs all derive from Adaptimmune’s proprietary technology
Active programs give broad coverage of tumors

Milestones met through April 2016
Expanded into autoimmune
Expanded strategic immunotherapy collaboration with GSK
Secured NY-ESO breakthrough therapy designation in synovial sarcoma
Secured NY-ESO orphan drug designation
IND opened for AFP in hepatocellular cancer

Manufacturing processes optimized
Proprietary T-cell expansion method
Commercial-ready process in place
EU and US contract manufacturers in place

Progressed construction of a dedicated manufacturing plant in Philadelphia
Manufacturing plant scheduled to open in 2017
Potential to enable treatment of up to 1,200 patients per year

Financial position confirmed
Total liquidity position of $248 million as of December 31, 2015
Current capital can fund the business through mid-2018