Full Press Release Details
From the labs to commercialization: Companies
merge to implement Baylor College of Medicine-developed therapies for cancer
HOUSTON - (August 8, 2018) - Despite major advances
in cancer therapy, conventional cancer treatments continue to be associated with devastating side effects for patients and are
not always curative. In response to this challenge, Dr. Ann Leen and Dr. Juan Vera and their colleagues at the Center for Cell
and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital and Houston Methodist wanted to develop an immune-based
therapy that would be safe for patients and had the potential to provide durable clinical benefit.
Their research paid off. The researchers developed a novel therapy
for cancer patients that harnesses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer in a natural way. This therapy uses a
natural' T cell response that does not require genetic engineering.
"Our tumor-targeted T cells are trained to recognize multiple
signature molecules that are present on the surface of tumor cells. This is important because previous clinical studies from other
groups using T cells trained to recognize just a single signature molecule have shown the propensity of tumor cells to change their
appearance' in order to escape the immune system," said Leen, who is an assistant professor of pediatrics -
hematology/oncology and a member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine.
The researcher's multi-targeted approach allows them to
limit the risk of tumor escape by attacking the tumor cells simultaneously from multiple angles. Their strategy also can prevent
the tumor from relapsing. The novel therapy is highly specific for the tumor, does not attack non-cancerous tissues, is significantly
less toxic than other therapies and can provide durable clinical benefit, even in patients who have failed multiple lines of previous
"Our approach is administered to patients in minutes and
then patients are monitored outside of the hospital," Leen said. "This therapy can be applied to different types of
cancer. We have tested it in lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, breast and pancreatic cancer."
Translating basic research into clinical solutions
In 2015, the researchers formed Marker Therapeutics, Inc., a
privately held clinical-stage company to facilitate broader patient access to this therapy. In 2018, Marker expects to merge with
TapImmune, Inc., a leader in the development of novel immunotherapies for cancer.
"This merger of two companies with complementary technologies
will allow us to perform advanced-stage clinical testing of our promising anti-cancer therapeutics and move one step closer to
realizing the goal of making immunotherapy a mainstream therapy for patients," Leen said.
"I believe that the new therapies we are acquiring with
Marker in this merger represent the next major leap forward in cell therapy for cancer," said Peter Hoang, president and
CEO of TapImmune. "The merger adds to our product pipeline a synergistic portfolio of highly differentiated T cell therapies
that has demonstrated potentially groundbreaking results in early clinical trials in lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia and multiple
"I feel very fortunate to have been entrusted with one
of the premier programs of Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and to integrate it with TapImmune
to provide this exceptional technology with a strong commercial pathway," said John Wilson, CEO of Marker. "By combining
TapImmune's experience and expertise in multi-epitope, peptide-based approaches to T cell activation with Marker's multi-targeted
T cell therapy, while simultaneously leveraging the know-how and facilities of Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Cell and
Gene Therapy, we intend to chart and accelerate a groundbreaking course toward more effective, less complex, non-toxic and cost-effective
In conjunction with the proposed merger, TapImmune intends to
finalize a strategic alliance with Baylor College of Medicine that will include sponsored research, manufacturing support and advancing
early stage clinical trials at the institution.
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of
directors of both companies. The proposed merger is expected to close in the second half of 2018, subject to completion of the
concurrent financing and the approval of the stockholders of each company as well as other customary conditions.
"The approach to generating T cell products that are specific
to multiple tumor antigens developed by Ann Leen, Juan Vera and their collaborators has the potential to be a game-changer in cancer
immunotherapy," said Michael Dilling, director of the Baylor Licensing Group. "I still remember their excitement when
they were initially developing this approach and were achieving positive results that suggested it would work. With this technology
in the hands of a merged company that has the resources to support clinical development, patients will have an opportunity to benefit
from it. This is what technology transfer is all about; bringing novel approaches to the marketplace."
Important Information and Where to Find It
TapImmune and Marker and certain of their directors and executive
officers may become participants in solicitation of proxies from TapImmune stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions.
Additional Information regarding persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation
of TapImmune stockholders in connection with the proposed merger, and a description of their direct and indirect interest, whether
as security holders, directors or employees of TapImmune or Marker or otherwise, which may be different from those of TapImune
stockholders generally, is set forth in the preliminary proxy statement filed with the SEC on July 13, 2018 in connection with
the proposed merger and will be set forth in other materials to be filed with the SEC. You can find information about TapImmune's
directors and executive officers in TapImmune's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed
with the SEC on March 23, 2018, and in the preliminary proxy statement filed with the SEC on July 13, 2018 in connection the proposed
Each of TapImmune's directors, Peter Hoang, Dr. Glynn
Wilson, Sherry Grisewood, David Laskow-Pooley, Mark Reddish, Joshua Silverman and Frederick Wasserman; TapImmune's executive
officers Michael J. Loiacono, (Chief Financial Officer); Marker's director and executive officer, John Wilson (Chief Operating
Officer); and TapImmune's proxy solicitor, Georgeson, LLC; may be deemed "participants" in the solicitation of
proxies from the TapImmune stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions.
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell
or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. A definitive proxy statement
and a proxy card will be filed with the SEC and will be mailed to Marker's stockholders seeking any required stockholder
approvals in connection with the proposed transactions. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS
ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT
TAPIMMUNE HAS FILED OR WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. Stockholders may obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement and any other documents filed
by TapImmune with the SEC in connection with the proposed transactions at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov),
at TapImmune's website (http://www.tapimmune.com/), or by writing to the Secretary, TapImmune Inc. at 5 West Forsyth
Street, Suite 200, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
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