Marker Therapeutics Announces Clinical Update at the Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASBMT and CIBMTR 2019

On February 25, 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, reported updated data from four clinical trials using the Company’s multi-antigen targeted T cell (MultiTAA) therapies (Press release, Marker Therapeutics, FEB 25, 2019, View Source;utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=investor_alerts&utm_content=Marker+Therapeutics+Announces+Clinical+Update+at+the+Transplantation+%26+Cellular+Therapy+Meetings+of+ASBMT+and+CIBMTR+2019 [SID1234533634]). The data was reviewed in oral and poster presentations at the Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASBMT and CIBMTR 2019 which took place in Houston, TX from February 20-24. Among the highlights, were results from an ongoing study including patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which were reviewed in an oral presentation by Dr. Premal Lulla, M.B.B.S., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine.

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"We continue to be highly encouraged by the clinical results we’ve seen to date with our MultiTAA therapies. In AML, we believe we are seeing increasing evidence of meaningful therapeutic benefit for patients with limited treatment alternatives. Our MultiTAA therapy appears to be safe and well-tolerated with the potential to mediate a meaningful anti-tumor effect, in addition to demonstrating a compelling correlation between therapeutic responses, with superior in vivo expansion of our T cells," said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker Therapeutics. "Similarly, the studies ongoing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, lymphoma and multiple myeloma continue to demonstrate positive results, and are supportive of the data we presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) in December, importantly with no additional disease relapses. Overall, this data update and our update at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2018 in December collectively have increased our total reported number of patients to 78 as compared to the 57 patients we had reported as of November."

AML Study Results

In Arm A of the AML study, 13 patients at Baylor College of Medicine were dosed with MultiTAA T cells as a maintenance therapy after receiving allogeneic stem cell transplant. Results demonstrated:

11 out of 13 patients remain alive, ranging from 6 weeks to 2.5 years post-infusion. Nine of these patients have never relapsed after MultiTAA therapy and continue to remain in complete remission (CR), durable between 6 weeks to 2.5 years;
Two patients saw local relapse in the central nervous system, but in both cases these patients were successfully treated with local therapy alone;
One patient saw extramedullary relapse and was subsequently treated in the active disease arm (Arm B) of the trial, generating a CR that was durable for 13 months; and
One patient relapsed 8 months after receiving MultiTAA T cells but following a second allogeneic stem cell transplant this patient remains alive in relapse 1.5 years following his initial T cell infusion.
In Arm B of the AML study, 6 patients suffering from active disease with relapsed/refractory (r/r) AML have been treated, with 1 patient having been treated twice for active disease with MultiTAA T cells;

2 patients were non-responsive to MultiTAA therapy and progressed with r/r disease;
1 patient developed a complete response (CR), which was durable for 13 months; and
1 patient developed a partial response (PR) that enabled that patient to receive a second allogeneic stem cell transplant;
The patient who developed a partial response saw significant tumor debulking, with circulating blasts reduced from over 50% to 15%.
2 additional patients who did not meet partial response criteria experienced disease stabilization enabling a 2-month delay to next-line therapy
Of these patients with disease stability, one patient was sufficiently stabilized to enable that patient to receive a second allogeneic stem cell transplant. The second transplant eliminated the patient’s MultiTAA T cells. This patient was given a second dose of MultiTAA T cells after initial disease relapse after the second transplant, but progressed to another line of therapy prior to any evaluable response assessment to the subsequent dose of MultiTAA T cells;
The other patient who had disease stability saw significant reduction in tumor burden, with a reduction in circulating blasts from 70% prior to infusion of MultiTAA T cells, to approximately 45% circulating blasts after MultiTAA therapy.
For patients in Arm B, overall survival ranged from 4 to 21 months after T cell infusions.
ALL Results

In addition to data from ongoing lymphoma and multiple myeloma trials, also presented in an oral presentation at the meeting were updated results from an ongoing study in ALL. Updates from this trial included:

Patients are now up to 28 months in CCR (Continued Complete Remission);
The only patient who has experienced relapse was a patient who displayed mixed donor/recipient chimerism after transplant, but remained in CCR for 6 months prior to relapse;
Patients that remain in CCR have been durable for between 4 to 28 months, with a median duration of 16 months.
"We are very excited about the results we are seeing in our early clinical trials. For patients with r/r AML, we believe that MultiTAA therapies may produce meaningful improvements in overall survival of patients who historically have had a dire prognostic outlook," stated Mythili Koneru, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Marker Therapeutics. "In adjuvant settings for patients currently in remission, I believe our early clinical results suggest that we may be providing significant additional protection against relapse and disease recurrence."

Rockland Immunochemicals and Cellaria Sign Worldwide Distribution Agreement

On February 25, 2019 Cellaria, LLC, a scientific innovator that develops revolutionary new models for cancer and other diseases, reported a new distribution partnership with Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc. (Rockland), a life science supplier and manufacturer that specializes in antibodies and antibody-based tools for research applications and assay development (Press release, Rockland, FEB 25, 2019, View Source [SID1234553932]). The agreement gives Rockland the rights to market and sell Cellaria’s high-quality next generation in-vitro disease models and cell culture media worldwide.

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With Rockland, Cellaria adds to its growing list of strategic distribution partners, expanding its global market presence and reach. Cellaria’s novel cell culture media and cancer cell models add to Rockland’s arsenal of products targeting cancer research and drug screening.

Cellaria’s cell models express different biomarkers that are directly correlated to the patient specimens used to create the models. The diversity of biomarker expression within similar categories of patients enables researchers to generate drug response and disease progression data that is highly relevant to those individual patients.

"We allow drug and cancer researchers to make much more informed decisions about which populations of patients are more likely to respond effectively to drugs that are under investigation," said David Deems, CEO of Cellaria. "Rockland’s scientific knowledge and their ability to sell cutting-edge and custom products make them a great fit to represent the innovation that we bring to market."

James Fendrick, CEO of Rockland stated, "Cellaria’s offerings will nicely complement Rockland’s existing line of cell culture products including human melanoma cell lines, fetal bovine serum, lysates and collagens. We are honored that Cellaria chose Rockland to serve as their distribution partner."

Genmab Announces Positive Topline Results in Phase III COLUMBA Study of Subcutaneous Daratumumab

On February 25, 2019 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq Copenhagen: GEN) reported topline results from the Phase III COLUMBA study (MMY3012) of subcutaneous (SC) versus intravenous (IV) daratumumab for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (Press release, Genmab, FEB 25, 2019, View Source [SID1234533635]). The results showed that SC administration of daratumumab co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 is non-inferior to IV administration of daratumumab with regard to the co-primary end points of overall response rate (ORR) and Maximum Trough concentration (Ctrough) of daratumumab on day 1 of the third treatment cycle.

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The ORR for patients treated with SC daratumumab was 41.1% (n=263) versus 37.1% in patients treated with IV daratumumab (n= 259). The lower limit of the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for the ratio of the two met the specified non-inferiority criterion for this co-primary endpoint. The geometric mean of Ctrough for patients treated with SC daratumumab was 499 mg/mL (n=149) versus 463 mg/mL in patients treated with IV daratumumab (n= 146). The lower limit of the 95% CI for the ratio of the two met the specified non-inferiority criterion for this co-primary endpoint.

No new safety signals were detected and Janssen Biotech, Inc., which licensed daratumumab from Genmab in 2012, will discuss the potential for a regulatory submission for this formulation with health authorities, and plans to submit the data to an upcoming medical conference and for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

"With the data from each of the key clinical studies we learn more about the difference that daratumumab potentially can make to the lives of patients suffering with multiple myeloma. I am particularly excited about the results from this study as it may support a much quicker and far more convenient administration of daratumumab, which would provide an important benefit for many patients and their families," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.

About the COLUMBA (MMY3012) study
The Phase III trial (NCT03277105) is a randomized, open-label, parallel assignment study that includes 522 adults diagnosed with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Patients were randomized to receive either: SC daratumumab, as 1800 mg daratumumab with rHuPH20 2000 U/mL once weekly in Cycle 1 and 2, every two weeks in Cycle 3 to 6, every 4 weeks in Cycle 7 and thereafter until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or the end of study or 16 mg/kg IV daratumumab once weekly in Cycle 1 and 2, every two weeks in Cycle 3 to 6, every 4 weeks in Cycle 7 and thereafter until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or the end of study. The co-primary endpoints of the study are ORR and Maximum trough of daratumumab (Ctrough; defined as the serum pre dose concentration of daratumumab on Cycle 3 Day 1).

About DARZALEX(daratumumab)
DARZALEX (daratumumab) injection for intravenous infusion is indicated in the United States in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI); and as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.1 DARZALEX is the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) approval to treat multiple myeloma. DARZALEX is indicated in Europe in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; and as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, whose prior therapy included a PI and an immunomodulatory agent and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. The option to split the first infusion of DARZALEX over two consecutive days has been approved in both Europe and the U.S. In Japan, DARZALEX is approved in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. DARZALEX is the first human CD38 monoclonal antibody to reach the market in the United Stated, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.DARZALEX.com.

Daratumumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high affinity to the CD38 molecule, which is highly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Daratumumab triggers a person’s own immune system to attack the cancer cells, resulting in rapid tumor cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action and through immunomodulatory effects, in addition to direct tumor cell death, via apoptosis (programmed cell death).1,2,3,4,5

Daratumumab is being developed by Janssen Biotech, Inc. under an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab from Genmab. A comprehensive clinical development program for daratumumab is ongoing, including multiple Phase III studies in smoldering, relapsed and frontline multiple myeloma settings and in amyloidosis. Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess the potential of daratumumab in other malignant and pre-malignant diseases, such as NKT-cell lymphoma, B and T-ALL. Daratumumab has received two Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA, for multiple myeloma, as both a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies.

Ultragenyx Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock

On February 25, 2019 Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:RARE), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel products for serious rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases, reported that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of up to $250,000,000 of shares of its common stock (Press release, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, FEB 25, 2019, View Source [SID1234533671]). In addition, the company is expected to grant the underwriters of the offering an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional $37,500,000 of shares of common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount.

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The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Merrill Lynch and Cowen are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and became automatically effective on February 21, 2018. This offering is being made solely by means of prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone at 866-803-9204, or by email at [email protected]; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing [email protected]; BofA Merrill Lynch, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by email at [email protected]; and Cowen, c/o Broadridge Financial Services, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY, 11717, United States, Attn.: Prospectus Department or by telephone 1-631-274-2806.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Autolus Therapeutics Reports Financial and Operational Results for the Transition Period from October 1 to December 31, 2018

On February 15, 2019 Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation programmed T cell therapies, reported its financial and operational results for the transition period from October 1 to December 31, 2018 (Press release, Autolus, FEB 25, 2019, View Source [SID1234533705]). On December 19, 2018, the board of directors approved a change of fiscal year end from September 30 to December 31. The Company has also filed a report on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the transition period.

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Key recent 2019 events and 2018 highlights include:

Clinical

In February 2019, Autolus announced updated data from the ongoing Phase 1 CARPALL trial of AUTO1 in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL) at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 1st European CAR T Cell Meeting held in Paris, France. Consistent with the original presentation at the 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, the emerging safety profile appears to be manageable and differentiated. Notably, none of the patients experienced severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (Grade 3-5) and none of the patients required treatment with tociluzumab or steroids. Thirteen patients experienced CRS at Grade 1 or 2. As previously reported, one patient experienced Grade 4 neurotoxicity; there were no other reports of severe neurotoxicity (Grade 3-5). Eleven patients experienced cytopenia that was not resolved by day 28 or recurring after day 28 (Grades 1-4). Two patients developed significant infections, and 1 patient died from sepsis while in molecular complete response (CR). In the trial, AUTO1 combined a high molecular complete response rate (86% after a single dose of AUTO1) with robust persistence at one year follow-up in pediatric acute B cell leukemia patients. The median duration of remission in responding patients was 7.3 months with a median follow-up of 14 months. Event-free survival was 46% with overall survival of 63% at 12 months.

In December 2018, Autolus announced preliminary results from the ongoing Phase 1/2 AMELIA clinical trial of AUTO3 in patients with relapsed/refractory pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL) at the 60th ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Researchers reported on ten patients with relapsed or refractory pALL who received an


AUTO3 infusion as a single dose or split dose dependent on their tumor burden. It was observed that AUTO3 was generally well-tolerated with no severe CRS and only one case of Grade 3 neurotoxicity observed, which was considered unlikely related to AUTO3 and primarily attributed to prior intrathecal chemotherapy. Eight out of ten patients achieved minimal residual disease-(MRD) negative CR and higher response rates were observed at doses ³3 x 106/kg dose levels with all patients achieving MRD-negative remission. In the higher dose group, four out of six patients had an ongoing molecular CR as of the cutoff date and, importantly, no loss of CD19 or CD22 was noted among the relapsed patients.

At the 60th ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2018, Autolus also announced preliminary results of the ongoing Phase 1/2 ALEXANDER clinical trial of AUTO3 in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The principal investigator reported that AUTO3 followed by consolidation with a limited duration of anti-PD1 therapy appeared to have a manageable safety profile at the doses evaluated. Out of the seven patients evaluable for safety, none developed CRS grade 3 or higher and one patient had Grade 3 neurotoxicity, considered possibly related to AUTO3. No dose limiting toxicities were observed and dose escalation continues. Six patients were evaluable for response; two patients achieved a CR (which was ongoing at six and three months post-treatment, respectively) and two patients had a partial response; two patients did not respond.

In December 2018, Autolus announced an update on its novel CAR T cell program for peripheral T cell lymphoma. The first patient was dosed in the Phase 1/2 LibrA T1 clinical trial of AUTO4, a developmental therapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory TRBC1-positive peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL). Also, the preclinical data from the sister program AUTO5, targeting TRBC2-positive lymphoma, were presented at the 60th ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.

Autolus will host an R&D Day in New York City on March 26, 2019 for the investment community. This event will provide an update on Autolus’ current clinical programs and highlight the company’s next-generation programed T cell products for hematological and solid tumor indications.

Manufacturing and Product Delivery

In February 2019, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency approved an extension to the GMP license of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Manufacturing Centre in Stevenage, which, with its innovative operational and licensing model, enables Autolus to manufacture clinical trial supply from this facility.

In January 2019, Autolus announced it has signed a long-term, full-building lease with Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. for the construction and development of an 85,000 square foot build-to-suit facility to be located in the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center in


Rockville, Maryland. The new facility will house offices for Autolus’ U.S.-based research and development, commercial and corporate functions and serve as its first full commercial-scale manufacturing center, with a planned capacity of producing 5,000 T cell therapies annually.

Also in January, Autolus initiated the build-out of a manufacturing facility in Enfield, U.K. The facility is planned to open in 2020 and will provide global supply of viral vector as well as a planned capacity of 1,000 T cell therapies annually.

Autolus is establishing a series of intelligent systems to efficiently manage all aspects of manufacture and certification of supply. Costs will be partly covered through a grant from Innovate UK. To date, Autolus has been awarded Innovate UK grants totaling £6.7 million (approximately $8.6 million).

Corporate Highlights

In December 2018, Autolus announced that it had been selected for addition to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (Nasdaq: NBI) as part of the annual re-ranking.

Autolus strengthened its management and board during 2018. Key company management appointments included Andrew J. Oakley as senior vice president and chief financial officer and Adam Hacker, PhD as senior vice president for regulatory affairs and quality. Key board of directors appointments included Linda Bain, current chief financial officer of Codiak BioSciences, Inc., and Cynthia M. Butitta, former chief operating officer of Kite Pharma.

In June 2018, Autolus completed a U.S. initial public offering of American Depositary Shares, representing a total of 10,147,059 ordinary shares, including full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment, for net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, of $156.5 million.

"In 2019, we expect significant progress that will build on the momentum of last year," stated Dr. Christian Itin, chairman and chief executive officer of Autolus. "Our robust pipeline of clinical and pre-clinical programs is progressing well, and we expect to move two programs into registrational trials and provide updates on all of our active programs at conferences during the course of this year. The next scheduled data presentation will be for AUTO1 in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper)’s Annual Meeting in April."

Financial results for the period from October 1 through December 31, 2018:

As stated above, we are transitioning to reporting our results on a calendar year basis, starting with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and as such we are presenting audited results for the three-month period from October 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, and the comparative period for 2017 discussed below, which is unaudited.

Cash and equivalents at December 31, 2018 totaled $217.5 million, compared with $129.0 million at December 31, 2017, due primarily to the $156.5 million in net proceeds resulting from Autolus’ U.S. initial public offering, which closed in June 2018.

Net total operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were $25.0 million, net of grant income of $0.3 million, as compared to net operating expenses of $8.4 million, net of grant income of $0.2 million, for the same period in 2017. The increase in expenses was due, in general, to the increase in clinical trial activity, which is expected to deliver on key milestones in 2019; increased headcount; and the cost of being a public company.

Research and development expenses increased to $17.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 from $5.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. Cash costs, which exclude depreciation as well as share-based compensation, increased to $15.2 million from $5.1 million. The increase in research and development cash costs of $10.1 million consisted primarily of an increase of $4.3 million in project expenses related to the activities necessary to prepare, activate, and monitor clinical trial programs, an increase in compensation-related costs of $3.8 million primarily due to an increase in headcount to support the advancement of our product candidates in clinical development, and an increase of $2.0 million in facilities costs and consumables supporting the expansion of our research and translational science capability and investment in manufacturing facilities and equipment.

General and administrative expenses increased to $7.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 from $3.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. Cash costs, which exclude depreciation as well as share-based compensation, increased to $5.7 million from $2.5 million. The increase of $3.2 million consisted primarily of an increase of $2.3 million in insurance, patent costs, commercial costs, investor relations and communication costs and additional facility costs, as well as an increase in compensation-related expense of $0.9 million.

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was $20.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared to $7.5 million for the same period in 2017.

The basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share for the three months ended December 31, 2018 totaled $(0.52) compared to a basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share of $(0.26) for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Autolus anticipates that cash on hand provides a runway into calendar year 2021.

Conference Call and Presentation Information

Autolus management will host a conference call today, February 25, at 8:00 a.m. EST/ 1:00pm GMT to discuss the company’s financial results and operational update.

To listen to the webcast and view the accompanying slide presentation, please go to: View Source

The call may also be accessed by dialing 877-270-2148 (U.S.) and 412-902-6510 (international) and asking the operator to join the Autolus Therapeutics conference call. After the conference call, a replay will be available for one week. To access the replay, please dial 877-344-7529 (U.S.) or 412-317-0088 (international) and enter replay access code 10129000.