TALS Talaris Therapeutics Inc

On June 30, 2022, Talaris Therapeutics, Inc. (“Talaris,” the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) announced a clinical update on its ongoing Phase 3 FREEDOM-1 study in living donor kidney transplant (“LDKT”) recipients.

To date, Talaris has enrolled 22 donor-recipient pairs in the Phase 3 FREEDOM-1 study of FCR001. Seven patients have been successfully dosed at five different trial sites. All three patients who were dosed more than 12 months prior to the data cutoff date have been successfully weaned off all chronic anti-rejection drugs without evidence of rejection and with stable kidney function. All of these patients, including the first patient who is now 24 months post-transplant, continue to remain off all anti-rejection drugs. Furthermore, all patients treated with FCR001 at least three months prior to the data cutoff date have achieved and maintained T-cell chimerism levels >50% at each of the 3-, 6- and 12-month timepoints post-transplant. The safety profile observed was generally consistent with that expected in patients receiving a kidney transplant and an allo-HSCT. Three cases of low-grade acute graft-versus-host disease (“aGvHD”) were reported, all of which were treatment-responsive and have since resolved. One of these patients is more than 12 months post-transplant and has been successfully weaned off all anti-rejection drugs. As a result of an internal review triggered by the GvHD cases, Talaris has modified its mobilization protocol and added a second post-transplant dose of cyclophosphamide for GvHD prophylaxis. Trial enrollment continues.

Phase 3 FREEDOM-1 Highlights¹

In the context of transplantation, chimerism refers to a state wherein both the donor’s and the recipient’s hematopoietic stem cells (“HSCs”) coexist in the recipient’s bone marrow. Talaris believes chimerism to be an important potential study biomarker, predictive of inducing a state of allogeneic tolerance in the recipient, whereby the recipient tolerates the donated organ without the need for chronic anti-rejection drugs. Achieving high levels of durable donor T-cell chimerism in the LDKT recipient is one of the goals of the Company’s Facilitated Allo-HSCT Therapy. In the Company’s Phase 2 study, establishment and maintenance of >50% donor T-cell chimerism in an LDKT recipient at 3, 6 and 12 months after administration of FCR001 all correlated strongly with the patient’s ability to durably discontinue chronic anti-rejection drugs approximately one year after transplant, without subsequent graft rejection.

Based on this analysis, the Company has modified the FREEDOM-1 trial protocol to eliminate plerixafor from the donor mobilization regimen in all but exceptional cases, and has also added a second dose of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (“PTCy”) for the FCR001 recipient. The revised mobilization protocol better aligns with current customary donor mobilization practices and the additional dose of PTCy reflects the current standard of care for GvHD prophylaxis in HLA-mismatched allogeneic stem cell transplants. All findings and recommendations were reviewed and endorsed by a panel of external scientific advisors as well as the FREEDOM-1 data monitoring committee, which supported continuation of the trial with these modifications.

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A copy of the Company’s presentation materials for the announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements regarding Talaris’ strategy, business plans and focus; the progress and timing of the preclinical and clinical development of Talaris’ programs, including FCR001. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “seek,” “predict,” “future,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” or the negative of these terms and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks associated with: the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on countries or regions in which the Company has operations or does business, as well as on the timing and anticipated timing and results of its clinical trials, strategy and future operations, including the expected timing and results from FREEDOM-1, the risk that the results of Talaris’ prior clinical trials may not be predictive of or consistent with future and/or final results in connection with the Company’s ongoing or future clinical trials; the therapeutic benefits expected from FCR001 and the Company’s ability to successfully demonstrate its safety and efficacy. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as well as any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Talaris’ views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Talaris explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.