TCR2 Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRR), a clinical-stage cell
therapy company with a pipeline of novel T cell therapies for
patients suffering from cancer, today announced the appointment of
Priti Hegde, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Hegde brings to
TCR2 over 20 years of cancer genomics and immunology, clinical
product development and early stage research experience in the
biopharmaceutical industry, including an interdisciplinary focus on
translational medicine. In connection with Dr. Hegde’s arrival,
Patrick Baeuerle, Ph.D., will be stepping down from the Board of
Directors effective August 24, 2021 but will continue to serve TCR2
in an advisory capacity.
“As we continue to advance gavo-cel in clinical
trials across multiple cancer indications and simultaneously
innovate our TRuC-T cells in ways to persist longer in the hostile
solid tumor microenvironment, Dr. Hegde will play a pivotal role in
helping us understand how our cancer patients are responding to
TRuC-T cells,” said Garry Menzel, Ph.D., President and Chief
Executive Officer of TCR2 Therapeutics. “Her extensive
experience in cancer immunology and in particular her expertise in
translational medicine and companion diagnostics will guide us in
our pursuit to design better clinical assays, enabling us to
determine which combinations or enhancements will allow our TRuC-T
cells to provide maximum benefit to patients in difficult-to-treat
indications. Once again, we are thrilled be adding to the board
such a highly regarded scientist with expertise specific to the
needs of the company.”
Dr. Hegde currently serves as Chief Scientific
Officer at Foundation Medicine, Inc., where she oversees clinical
product development, cancer genomics, regulatory and early stage
research to advance their leading comprehensive genomic profiling
portfolio. Previously, Dr. Hegde held roles of increasing
responsibility at Genentech for 12 years, where she served as
senior director and principal scientist in oncology biomarker
development, during which she established and led the biomarker
group accountable for translational science strategies in cancer
immunotherapy and was responsible for clinical translation
strategies for more than 18 therapeutic programs in over 100 Phase
I-III global clinical trials. Dr. Hegde was also instrumental in
the approvals for Tecentriq® (atezolizumab), a PD-L1 immunotherapy,
in both the United States and European Union, as well as its
forthcoming diagnostic filings. Prior to joining Genentech, Dr.
Hegde was the manager of disease and biomarker transcriptomics at
GlaxoSmithKline. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at The
Institute for Genomic Research and holds a Ph.D. in Biochemical
Pharmacology from SUNY Buffalo, as well as a B. Pharmacy degree
from Mumbai University, India.
“To work with a company developing a truly
unique cell therapy modality which can overcome the limitations of
both CAR- and TCR-T therapies in solid tumors represents a great
base to innovate a path forward using translational medicine,” said
Dr. Hegde. “I am delighted to join the TCR2 board at a time when
the company is rapidly expanding beyond gavo-cel with a rich
pipeline of new targets and enhancements to TRuC-T cells which
could benefit a significant number of cancer patients.”
“On behalf of the company and the entire TCR2
board, I also want to recognize Patrick Baeuerle for his many
contributions and commitment to the company’s vision and scientific
excellence. The TRuC-T cell, his truly original idea, is now a
clinical product providing benefit to cancer patients with solid
tumors and his ongoing innovation has enabled us to create next
generation approaches in our expanding pipeline,” commented Dr.
Menzel. “We literally would not exist without Dr. Baeuerle and we
are grateful that we will continue to benefit from his insights as
he transitions from a Board member to a consultant.”
About TCR2
Therapeutics
TCR2 Therapeutics Inc. is a
clinical-stage cell therapy company developing a pipeline of novel
T cell therapies for patients suffering from
cancer. TCR2’s proprietary T cell receptor (TCR) Fusion
Construct T cells (TRuC®-T cells) specifically recognize and
kill cancer cells by harnessing signaling from the entire TCR,
independent of human leukocyte antigens (HLA). In preclinical
studies, TRuC-T cells have demonstrated superior anti-tumor
activity compared to chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T
cells), while secreting lower levels of cytokines. The Company’s
lead TRuC-T cell product candidate targeting solid tumors,
gavo-cel, is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial
to treat patients with mesothelin-positive non-small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC), ovarian cancer, malignant pleural/peritoneal
mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma. The Company’s lead TRuC-T
cell product candidate targeting hematological malignancies,
TC-110, is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial to
treat patients with CD19-positive adult acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (aALL) and with aggressive or indolent non-Hodgkin
lymphoma (NHL). For more information about TCR2, please
visit www.tcr2.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements and information within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal
securities laws. The use of words such as "may," "will," "could",
"should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes,"
"estimates," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "endeavor,"
"potential," "continue" or the negative of such words or other
similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, express or implied statements regarding the therapeutic
potential of gavo-cel, timing for interim updates for the gavo-cel
and TC-110 clinical trials, expectations regarding manufacturing
plans and capabilities, future clinical development and
commercialization plans, the development of the Company’s TRuC-T
cells, their potential characteristics, applications and clinical
utility, and the potential therapeutic applications of the
Company’s TRuC-T cell platform.
The expressed or implied forward-looking
statements included in this press release are only predictions and
are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions,
including, without limitation: uncertainties inherent in clinical
studies and in the availability and timing of data from ongoing
clinical studies; whether interim results from a clinical trial
will be predictive of the final results of the trial; whether
results from preclinical studies or earlier clinical studies will
be predictive of the results of future trials; the expected timing
of submissions for regulatory approval or review by governmental
authorities, including review under accelerated approval processes;
orphan drug designation eligibility; regulatory approvals to
conduct trials or to market products; TCR2’s ability to maintain
sufficient manufacturing capabilities to support its research,
development and commercialization efforts, including TCR2’s ability
to secure additional manufacturing facilities; whether TCR2's cash
resources will be sufficient to fund TCR2's foreseeable and
unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure
requirements, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TCR2’s ongoing
operations; and other risks set forth under the caption "Risk
Factors" in TCR2’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, most
recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and its other filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events
and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and
actual results could differ materially and adversely from those
anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You
should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of
future events. Although TCR2 believes that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it
cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity,
performance or events and circumstances reflected in the
forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur.
Moreover, except as required by law, neither
TCR2 nor any other person assumes responsibility for the
accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements
included in this press release. Any forward-looking statement
included in this press release speaks only as of the date on which
it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
Investor and Media Contact:Carl
MauchDirector, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications(617)
949-5667carl.mauch@tcr2.com
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