Full Press Release Details
Marker Therapeutics Awarded $13.1 Million Grant
from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
Houston, TX-August 19, 2021-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 announced that the Company received notice of a Product
Development Research award totaling approximately $13.1 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to
support the Company's Phase 2 clinical trial of its lead MultiTAA-specific T cell product MT-401.
The CPRIT award is intended to support the adjuvant arm of the Company's
Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating MT-401 when given as an adjuvant therapy to patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following a hematopoietic
stem cell transplant. The primary objectives of the adjuvant arm of the trial are to evaluate relapse-free survival after MT-401 treatment
when compared with a randomized control group.
"We are honored to have been approved by CPRIT for this award
which provides additional capital to support the clinical development of MT-401 and external validation of our technology from experts
in the field who conducted business and scientific diligence on behalf of CPRIT," said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker
Therapeutics. "Our MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy approach has shown encouraging results in post-transplant AML in clinical studies,
and we are pleased to advance the clinical development of MT-401 in our Phase 2 trial."
About the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
To date, CPRIT has awarded $2.9 billion in grants to Texas research
institutions and organizations through its academic research, prevention and product development research programs. CPRIT has recruited
237 distinguished researchers, supported the establishment, expansion or relocation of 43 companies to Texas and generated over $5.7 billion
in additional public and private investment. CPRIT funding has advanced scientific and clinical knowledge and provided 7.4 million life-saving
cancer prevention and early detection services reaching Texans from all 254 counties. On November 5, 2019, Texas voters overwhelmingly
approved a constitutional amendment to provide an additional $3 billion to CPRIT for a total $6 billion investment in cancer research
About Marker's Phase 2 AML Post-Transplant Study
The multicenter Phase 2 AML study is evaluating the clinical
efficacy of MT-401 in patients with AML following an allogeneic stem-cell transplant in both the adjuvant and active disease
setting. In the adjuvant setting, approximately 120 patients will be randomized 1:1 to either MT-401 at 90 days post-transplant
versus standard-of-care observation, while approximately 40 patients with active disease will receive MT-401 as part of the
The primary objectives of the trial are to evaluate relapse-free survival
in the adjuvant group and determine the complete remission rate and duration of complete remission in active disease patients. Additional
objectives include, for the adjuvant group, overall survival and graft-versus-host disease relapse-free survival while additional objectives
for the active disease group include overall response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival and overall survival.
In April 2020, the FDA granted Orphan Drug designation to MT-401 for
the treatment of patients with AML following allogeneic stem cell transplant.
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.
To receive future press releases via email, please visit:
Forward-Looking Statements
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;and
our use of our cash and cash equivalents, future operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements. 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.