Atara Biotherapeutics Highlights Next-Generation and Off-the-Shelf, Allogeneic CAR T Technologies and Pipeline
November 29 2018 - 2:50PM
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRA), a leading
off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company developing
novel treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral
diseases, today presented details of the Company’s next-generation
chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) technologies and pipeline
in conjunction with hosting a CAR T Breakfast Teach-In event in New
York, NY.
“Atara is building a leading next-generation and off-the-shelf,
allogeneic CAR T pipeline,” said Isaac Ciechanover M.D., Chief
Executive Officer and President of Atara Biotherapeutics. “Although
the current generation autologous CAR T immunotherapies have
transformed outcomes for patients with B cell malignancies, we
believe many opportunities exist to improve outcomes, expand to
earlier lines of therapy and address areas of high unmet need,
including acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and solid tumors. We are
collaborating with academic leaders to advance programs using
technologies at the forefront of CAR T immunotherapy
innovation.”
The event featured next generation CAR T experts:
- Michel Sadelain, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Cell
Engineering, and Head, Gene Expression and Gene Transfer
Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)
- Marco Davila, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Attending Physician,
Department of Blood & Marrow Transplantation and Cellular
Immunotherapy Medical Director, Cell Therapy Facility, Moffitt
Cancer Center
Dr. Sadelain described CAR T technologies including novel
co-stimulatory domains modified to generate more physiologic
signaling, reduce exhaustion, improve persistence and unlock the
solid tumor microenvironment. Atara and MSK are collaborating
to develop next-generation CAR T immunotherapies using several of
these innovative CAR T technologies.
Dr. Davila’s presentation focused on developing promising CAR T
immunotherapies for patients with AML and B cell malignancies in
collaboration with Atara using modified co-stimulatory subdomains
designed to improve persistence and reduce T cell exhaustion.
Dietmar Berger, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of Research &
Development of Atara Biotherapeutics introduced the Company’s
strategy to leverage these innovative licensed technologies with
Atara’s EBV-specific T cell expertise to advance next-generation,
off-the-shelf CAR T programs.
Dr. Berger presented results for an EBV.CD19.28z CAR T that
demonstrated high CAR transduction, increased frequency of central
memory T cell phenotype, specific and selective CD19 activity, low
levels of off-target alloreactivity and strong antigen-specific
proliferation and persistence. These findings establish feasibility
for engineering EBV-specific T cells by leveraging next-generation
CAR technologies, and support further development as an
off-the-shelf, allogeneic, CAR T platform to generate IND clinical
candidates. He concluded by describing Atara’s CAR T preclinical
pipeline, including four oncology programs progressing toward
IND.
A webcast replay of the Atara CAR T Breakfast Teach-In can be
accessed on the Investors and Media section of Atarabio.com for 30
days following today’s live event.
About Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.Atara
Biotherapeutics, Inc. (@Atarabio) is a leading off-the-shelf,
allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company developing novel treatments
for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases. Atara’s
most advanced T-cell immunotherapy, tab-cel® (tabelecleucel), is in
Phase 3 development for patients with Epstein-Barr virus associated
post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ PTLD), as well
as other EBV associated hematologic and solid tumors, including
nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Atara is also developing T-cell
immunotherapies targeting EBV antigens believed to be important for
the potential treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Atara's
pipeline also includes next-generation chimeric antigen receptor
T-cell (CAR T) immunotherapies for patients with hematologic and
solid tumors, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The company was
founded in 2012 and is headquartered in South San Francisco,
California.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release
contains or may imply "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For example,
forward-looking statements include statements regarding: the
Company’s ability to develop next generation and off-the-shelf,
allogeneic CAR T immunotherapies; the Company’s ability to advance
programs, including next-generation off-the-shelf CAR T programs,
using CAR T technologies; the opportunities to improve outcomes,
expand to earlier lines of therapy and address areas of high unmet
need; and generation of IND clinical candidates. Because such
statements deal with future events and are based on Atara
Biotherapeutics' current expectations, they are subject to
various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or
achievements of Atara Biotherapeutics could differ
materially from those described in or implied by the statements in
this press release. These forward-looking statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Atara
Biotherapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), including in the “Risk Factors” and
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s most recently
filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent
filings and in the documents incorporated by reference therein.
Except as otherwise required by law, Atara
Biotherapeutics disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information,
future events or circumstances or otherwise.
INVESTOR & MEDIA CONTACTS:
Investors:John Craighead, Atara
Biotherapeutics650-410-3012jcraighead@atarabio.com
John Grimaldi, Burns McClellan212-213-0006
x362jgrimaldi@burnsmc.com
Media:Nancie Steinberg, Burns
McClellan212-213-0006 x318nsteinberg@burnsmc.com
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