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.
To receive future press releases via email, please visit:
https://www.markertherapeutics.com/email-alerts.
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.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
$
21,352,382
|
|
$
43,903,949
|
Prepaid expenses and
deposits
|
2,057,924
|
|
1,526,442
|
Interest
receivable
|
559
|
|
56,189
|
Other
receivable
|
1,000,000
|
|
-
|
Total current
assets
|
24,410,865
|
|
45,486,580
|
Non-current
assets:
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and
equipment, net
|
3,570,736
|
|
417,528
|
Construction in
progress
|
6,789,098
|
|
-
|
Right-of-use assets,
net
|
10,844,116
|
|
455,174
|
Total non-current
assets
|
21,203,950
|
|
872,702
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
$
45,614,815
|
|
$
46,359,282
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and
accrued liabilities
|
$
6,013,010
|
|
$
1,757,680
|
Lease
liability
|
388,792
|
|
204,132
|
Warrant
liability
|
-
|
|
31,000
|
Total current
liabilities
|
6,401,802
|
|
1,992,812
|
Non-current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
Lease liability, net
of current portion
|
11,868,440
|
|
280,247
|
Total non-current
liabilities
|
11,868,440
|
|
280,247
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
18,270,242
|
|
2,273,059
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and
contingencies
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
equity:
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock -
$0.001 par value, 5 million shares authorized and 0 shares issued
and
outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively
|
-
|
|
-
|
Common stock, $0.001
par value, 150 million shares authorized, 50.7 million and 45.7
million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and
2019, respectively
|
50,731
|
|
45,728
|
Additional paid-in
capital
|
383,533,326
|
|
371,573,909
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(356,239,484)
|
|
(327,533,414)
|
Total stockholders'
equity
|
27,344,573
|
|
44,086,223
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
and stockholders' equity
|
$
45,614,815
|
|
$
46,359,282
|
Marker
Therapeutics, Inc. Consolidated Statements of
Operations
|
|
|
|
For the Years
Ended
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
Grant
income
|
|
$
466,785
|
|
$
213,194
|
Total
revenues
|
|
466,785
|
|
213,194
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
Research and
development
|
|
18,880,751
|
|
12,764,804
|
General and
administrative
|
|
10,471,846
|
|
9,977,196
|
Total operating
expenses
|
|
29,352,597
|
|
22,742,000
|
Loss from
operations
|
|
(28,885,812)
|
|
(22,528,806)
|
Other income
(expense):
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value
of warrant liabilities
|
|
31,000
|
|
18,000
|
Interest
income
|
|
148,742
|
|
1,082,842
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
(28,706,070)
|
|
$
(21,427,964)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share,
basic and diluted
|
|
$
(0.61)
|
|
$
(0.47)
|
Weighted average
number of common shares outstanding
|
|
47,039,862
|
|
45,587,734
|
Marker
Therapeutics, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash
Flows
|
|
|
For the Years
Ended
|
|
December
31,
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Cash Flows from
Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$
(28,706,070)
|
|
$
(21,427,964)
|
Reconciliation of
net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and
amortization
|
485,641
|
|
105,123
|
Changes in fair value
of warrant liabilities
|
(31,000)
|
|
(18,000)
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
5,228,409
|
|
5,356,972
|
Amortization on
right-of-use assets
|
590,039
|
|
181,459
|
Changes in
operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and
deposits
|
(531,482)
|
|
(1,384,725)
|
Interest
receivable
|
55,630
|
|
51,988
|
Accounts payable and
accrued expenses
|
4,222,470
|
|
(963,967)
|
Lease
liability
|
(173,268)
|
|
(185,179)
|
Net cash used in
operating activities
|
(18,859,631)
|
|
(18,284,293)
|
Cash Flows from
Investing Activities:
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property
and equipment
|
(3,638,849)
|
|
(374,983)
|
Purchase of
construction in progress
|
(6,789,098)
|
|
-
|
Net cash used in
investing activities
|
(10,427,947)
|
|
(374,983)
|
Cash Flows from
Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from
issuance of common stock
|
6,186,011
|
|
-
|
Proceeds from
exercise of stock options
|
-
|
|
57,744
|
Proceeds from
exercise of warrants
|
550,000
|
|
758,733
|
Net cash provided by
financing activities
|
6,736,011
|
|
816,477
|
Net decrease in
cash
|
(22,551,567)
|
|
(17,842,799)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents at beginning of the period
|
43,903,949
|
|
61,746,748
|
Cash and cash
equivalents at end of the period
|
$
21,352,382
|
|
$
43,903,949
|
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marker-therapeutics-reports-fiscal-year-2020-operating-and-financial-results-301243927.html
SOURCE Marker Therapeutics, Inc.