Full Press Release Details
Unum Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data for BOXR1030 at the Society for
Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting
- Unum s first product candidate from its BOXR platform, BOXR1030, is designed to improve
T cell functionality in the solid tumor microenvironment -
- BOXR1030 T cells co-express the GOT2 transgene to improve T cell metabolism and
reduce T cell exhaustion, leading to complete tumor regressions in xenograft studies -
CAMBRIDGE, MA, November 5, 2019 Unum Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: UMRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing curative
cell therapies for cancer, today announced preclinical data for its BOXR1030 program presented at the SITC meeting being held November 6 10, 2019 in National Harbor, MD.
Solid tumors create an unfavorable microenvironment that depletes T cells of critical nutrients and amino acids, drives T cell dysfunction, and inhibits
the effectiveness of cellular therapies, and our BOXR platform was specifically developed to discover novel transgenes that can be co-expressed with chimeric-targeting receptors to improve T cell functionality
in the solid tumor microenvironment, said Seth Ettenberg, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Unum. At this year s SITC, we present preclinical data on the first product candidate from our BOXR platform, BOXR1030, which contains the
GOT2 transgene. In our preclinical studies using stringent animal xenograft models that simulate the solid tumor microenvironment, expression of the GOT2 mitochondrial enzyme in BOXR1030 increased the production of key amino acids and metabolites,
improved the anti-oxidant balance of T cells, and prevented their dysfunction and exhaustion. This work extends the increasingly recognized importance of immunometabolism in ensuring proper immune cell function.
Poster presentation title: Co-expression of the Metabolic Enzyme GOT2 with a GPC3-Targeted CAR-T Overcomes Challenges of the Solid Tumor Microenvironment, Substantially Improving Therapeutic Efficacy in Solid Tumor Xenografts
About Unum s BOXR platform
platform was established with the aim of discovering novel bolt-on transgenes that can be co-expressed with chimeric-targeting receptors to improve the
function of T cells in the solid tumor microenvironment. Unum s BOXR discovery capabilities broadly evaluate T cell phenotype through a rigorous, multi-stage screening strategy that simulates the tumor microenvironment. Unum has discovered and
continues to enrich a library of master regulatory genes of T cell biology that regulate pathways essential for cell growth, proliferation, and survival under a variety of conditions. BOXR bolt-on transgenes
identified in this platform are designed to address a variety of immunosuppressive mechanisms of solid tumors, including metabolic competition, immune suppressor cells, and exhaustion due to chronic stimulation. Once discovered, BOXR transgenes are
designed to be incorporated into several different types of therapeutic T cells, including both ACTR T cells and CAR-T cells, to impart new functionality to T cells. BOXR platform objectives include expanding
the scope of biological mechanisms and transgenes in its proprietary BOXR library, enabling BOXR bolt-on applications for a broad range of immune cell therapies, including both autologous and allogeneic
approaches, and advancing new BOXR product candidates into the clinic.
About Unum Therapeutics
Unum Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing curative cell therapies to treat a broad range of cancer patients.
Unum s novel proprietary technologies include Antibody-Coupled T cell Receptor (ACTR), an autologous engineered T-cell therapy that combines the cell-killing ability of T cells and the tumor-targeting
ability of co-administered antibodies to exert potent antitumor immune responses, and Bolt-On Chimeric Receptor (BOXR), designed to improve the functionality of
engineered T cells by incorporating a bolt-on transgene to overcome resistance of the solid tumor microenvironment to T cell attack. Unum has multiple programs in Phase 1 clinical testing and
preclinical testing, including; ACTR707 used in combination with trastuzumab in adult patients with HER2+ advanced cancer and used in combination with rituximab in adult patients with r/r NHL; and BOXR1030 targeting GPC3+ solid tumor cancers. The
Company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA.
Follow Unum Therapeutics on social media: @UnumRx, and LinkedIn.
Forward looking Statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements regarding our future expectations, plans and prospects, including projections regarding future revenues and financial performance, our long-term growth, enrollment and results for
our preclinical and clinical activities, the development of our product candidates, including the BOXR platform and product candidates, and the anticipated timing and success of any of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and regulatory filings,
as well as other statements containing the words anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, might,
plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, or would and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. We may not actually achieve the forecasts disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking
statements. Actual results could differ materially from the projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, including risks related to the accuracy of our estimates regarding
expenses, future revenues, capital requirements, and the need for additional financing, the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product
candidates, and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors sections of our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release
represent our views as of the date hereof. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically
disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
Stephanie Ascher, 212-362-1200