Mersana Therapeutics Outlines 2017 Milestones and 2018 Goals
January 08 2018 - 8:00AM
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., (NASDAQ:MRSN) a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a
pipeline of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) based on its
Dolaflexin® and other proprietary platforms, today announced
business and clinical achievements for 2017 and outlined corporate
goals for 2018. The Company will provide further details during its
presentation at the 36th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
in San Francisco, CA on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 4:00 pm PT.
“2017 was a year of exceptional execution as we positioned the
company for achieving key clinical milestones in 2018 and
beyond. Last year, we advanced two lead ADC product
candidates, XMT-1522 and XMT-1536, into the clinic and supported
our partner Takeda in selecting its first Dolaflexin-based ADC for
initiation of IND enabling studies,” said Anna Protopapas,
President and CEO, Mersana Therapeutics. “We’re looking forward to
2018, as we plan to complete the dose escalation phase of the Phase
1 study for XMT-1522 and present the data at a scientific
conference, as well as substantially complete recruitment of the
dose expansion cohorts for XMT-1522. We also expect to
continue dose escalation for XMT-1536 and select our next ADC
candidate for clinical development. We will persist in building a
strong organization that is passionately dedicated to scientific
excellence, focused execution and addressing patient needs.”
Mersana’s pipeline includes two compounds in Phase 1 clinical
trials: XMT-1522, a Dolaflexin ADC targeting
HER2-expressing breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
and gastric cancer, and XMT-1536, a first-in-class Dolaflexin ADC
targeting NaPi2b, a clinically validated ADC target broadly
expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer and non-squamous NSCLC, as
well as a number of other tumor types. Mersana is progressing both
molecules in Phase 1 dose escalation studies. XMT-1522 has
been administered to six dose cohorts with the sixth dose cohort
currently in safety evaluation, and XMT-1536 has enrolled and
cleared the first dose level. Mersana also has ongoing, robust
research programs that the Company believes are positioned to
deliver an additional investigational new drug (IND) every 12-24
months.
Mersana Therapeutics 2017 Corporate
Milestones
XMT-1522: a Dolaflexin ADC targeting
HER2-expressing breast cancer, NSCLC and gastric cancers
- Initiated patient dosing for XMT-1522 and completed dosing of
six cohorts in the dose escalation study. The maximum tolerated
dose has not yet been established, as treatment related adverse
events to date have generally been mild.
- Presented preclinical data on XMT-1522 at AACR 2017 that
supported potential synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
XMT-1536: a first-in-class Dolaflexin ADC
targeting NaPi2b, a clinically validated ADC target broadly
expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer and non-squamous NSCLC, as
well as additional tumor types.
- Filed and received FDA clearance of the IND for XMT-1536 in
late October.
- The first dose level has been cleared and dose escalation
continues.
- Presented XMT-1536 efficacy data in an ovarian mouse study at
AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and
Cancer Therapeutics that supported the potential for XMT-1536 to
have broad activity in epithelial ovarian cancer.
- Developed and validated an immunohistochemistry assay for
measuring NaPi2B protein levels to be integrated into the clinical
development of XMT-1536.
Discovery
- Supported partner Takeda in selecting its first Dolaflexin ADC
for initiation of IND-enabling studies.
- Advanced Mersana’s discovery stage pipeline programs.
Platform
- Successfully scaled up the Dolaflexin platform.
- Strengthened ADC leadership position with the development of
new proprietary platforms, including a novel DNA alkylating
platform.
Corporate
- Completed an initial public offering of 5 million shares of
common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $75 million.
- Continued to attract top talent to support the advancement of
its pipeline.
Mersana Therapeutics 2018 Corporate Goals
XMT-1522
- Continue dose escalation study to establish Maximum Tolerated
Dose (MTD).
- Select Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) and substantially enroll
dose expansion cohorts.
- Present dose escalation data at a scientific conference.
XMT-1536
- Continue dose escalation study to establish MTD. If MTD is
established, select Phase 2 dose and initiate enrollment of
expansion cohorts.
Discovery
- Select the next ADC clinical candidate and disclose
pre-clinical data at a scientific meeting.
- Disclose new proprietary platform technologies at a scientific
meeting.
Corporate
- Proactively evaluate potential for strategic collaborations
that maximize the value of Mersana’s pipeline and platforms.
- Continue to recruit top talent and maintain a culture of
scientific excellence, focused execution and patient needs.
About Mersana Therapeutics Mersana Therapeutics
is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company using its
differentiated and proprietary ADC platforms to develop highly
targeted drugs with increased tolerability and expanded
opportunities to deliver meaningful clinical benefit to
patients. Mersana’s lead product candidate, XMT-1522, is in
Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with advanced tumors expressing
HER2, including breast cancer, non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC)
and gastric cancer patients. The Company’s second product
candidate, XMT-1536, is in Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with
tumors expressing NaPi2b, including ovarian cancer, NSCLC and other
cancers. In addition, multiple partners are using Mersana’s
platform to advance their ADC pipelines.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release
contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal
securities laws. These forward-looking statements are not
statements of historical facts and are based on management’s
beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to
management. Forward-looking statements include information
concerning the Company’s business strategy and the design,
progression and timing of its clinical trials. Forward-looking
statements generally can be identified by terms such as
“anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “seeks,” “estimates,”
“intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,”
“should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions and the negatives
of those terms. Forward-looking statements represent management’s
beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release.
The Company’s operations involve risks and uncertainties, many of
which are outside its control, and any one of which, or combination
of which, could materially affect its results of operations and
whether the forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be
correct. Factors that may materially affect the Company’s
results of operations and whether these forward-looking statements
prove to be correct include, among other things, that preclinical
testing may not be predictive of the results or success of ongoing
or later preclinical or clinical trials, that the development of
the Company’s product candidates and new platforms will take longer
and/or cost more than planned and that the identification of new
product candidates will take longer than planned, as well as those
listed in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on
November 13, 2017 with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). Except as required by law, the Company assumes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or
to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new
information becomes available in the future.
Copies of the Company’s our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and
our other SEC filings are available by visiting EDGAR on
the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.
Contacts:
Media Contact Paul Kidwell, 617-680-1088
paulkidwell@mersana.com
or
Investor Contact Stern Investor Relations, Inc. Christina
Tartaglia, 212-362-1200 christina@sternir.com
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