Marker Therapeutics Reports Fiscal Year 2020 Operating and Financial Results

HOUSTON, March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 corporate update and reported financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.  

"We are proud of our Company's continued progress, which has positioned us for a busy and productive year ahead," said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker Therapeutics. "Recently, we dosed the first patient in the safety lead-in portion of our Phase 2 trial in post-transplant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the fourth quarter, we completed construction of a new in-house cGMP manufacturing facility in Houston, which we anticipate will be fully operational in the first half of this year. We also continue to optimize the MT-401 cell therapy manufacturing process, which we believe could result in an increase in the number of T cells available for patient administration, superior T cell phenotype and antigen specificity, and the potential for improved patient outcomes."

RECENT PROGRAM UPDATES

MT-401: Multi-Antigen Targeted (MultiTAA)-Specific T Cell Product Candidate for AML

Phase 2 AML Trial

• In March 2021, Marker dosed the first patient in the safety lead-in portion of its Phase 2 trial in AML. The safety lead-in is expected to enroll a total of six patients: three of which will be treated with MT-401 manufactured with a legacy reagent, and the remaining three to be treated with MT-401 manufactured with a new reagent from an alternate supplier.
• To date, Marker has activated seven clinical sites and is in the start-up phase with additional clinical sites to enroll patients for the safety lead-in portion of the AML trial. The Company has also received commitments from additional clinical sites to participate in the Phase 2 AML trial following the safety lead-in phase and anticipates activating a total of approximately 20 sites.

Manufacturing and Process Improvements

• Marker continues to streamline and simplify the MT-401 manufacturing process. The technical improvements include a 50% reduction in manufacturing time, a 90%+ reduction in the number of required operator interventions, and significant improvement in the consistency and reproducibility of the manufacturing process, while yielding a significant increase in the number of T cells available for patient administration. The Company believes the new process could yield a measurably improved product, with superior T cell phenotype and antigen specificity as compared to the original process. The new process improvements have been updated in the CMC section of the IND and will be used for all patients in the Marker AML Phase 2 clinical trial.

BUSINESS UPDATES

• The Company completed the construction and qualification of its cGMP manufacturing facility in Houston, TX, located near the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The facility will allow production of MultiTAA-specific T cell products according to U.S. FDA guidelines and is designed to be scalable using modular processes. The facility will be used to support the manufacture of study drug for Marker's Phase 2 AML trial (MT-401) and for future hematological and solid tumor trials, in addition to the potential commercialization of any approved products. The Company has initiated the technology transfer process and expects the facility to be fully operational in the first half of 2021.  

FISCAL YEAR 2020 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Cash Position and Guidance: At December 31, 2020, Marker had cash and cash equivalents of $21.4 million. The Company raised $6.2 million through the previously executed $30 million common stock purchase agreement with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC. The remaining $23.8 million available to Marker from Aspire Capital, along with current cash available, funds operations into Q1 2022.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $18.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $12.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $10.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Net Loss: Marker reported a net loss of $28.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to a net loss of $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.  

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. This population of T cells is designed to attack multiple tumor targets following infusion into patients and to activate the patient's immune system to produce broad spectrum anti-tumor activity. Because Marker does not genetically engineer its T cell therapies, we believe that our product candidates will be easier and less expensive to manufacture, with reduced toxicities, compared to current engineered CAR-T and TCR-based approaches, and may provide patients with meaningful clinical benefit. As a result, Marker believes its portfolio of T cell therapies has a compelling product profile, as compared to current gene-modified CAR-T and TCR-based therapies.

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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, development and regulatory activities and expectations relating to our non-engineered multi-tumor antigen specific T cell therapies; the effectiveness of these programs or the possible range of application and potential curative effects and safety in the treatment of diseases; the timing, conduct and success of our clinical trials, including the Phase 2 trial of MT-401, as well as clinical trials conducted by our collaborators; the timing and success of the technology transfer process related to our planned manufacturing facility and the receipt of regulatory approval for the related cGMP; our manufacturing processes and our ability to use our current and planned manufacturing facilities to support clinical and commercial demand. 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. Such risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business and the global economy. 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.

SOURCE Marker Therapeutics, Inc.

Related Links

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