Atara Biotherapeutics Presents Tab-cel® Clinical Biomarker Results and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Study Design at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 results showing that circulating EBV-targeted cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (EBV-CTLp) could serve as a biomarker of clinical response to tab-cel® (tabelecleucel) in patients with EBV-driven diseases. Findings were presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2019 in Chicago.
Ten tab-cel®-treated patients with EBV-associated diseases from a multicenter expanded access protocol (EAP) study were selected. In this cohort, ex-vivo analyses of circulating EBV-CTLp following administration of tab-cel® showed a statistically significant correlation (p=0.038) with clinical response.
A second presentation described the design of an ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical study of tab-cel® in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with platinum-resistant or recurrent EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Tab-cel® has been evaluated as a single agent in previous studies where evidence of radiographic response was observed in patients with chemotherapy refractory, metastatic NPC.
Abstract 2532: Correlation of circulating EBV-targeted cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (EBV-CTLp) and clinical response following tabelecleucel (tab-cel) infusion in patients with EBV-driven disease
Poster Presentation Date and Time: Saturday, June 1, 2019, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CDT
Session Title: Developmental Immunotherapy and Tumor Immunobiology
Location: Poster Board 176, Hall A, McCormick Place, South Building, Chicago, IL
Authors: Blake T. Aftab, Daniel Munson, Kevin Rasor, Philippe Foubert, Donald Tsai, Wen Kai Weng, Armin Ghobadi, Koen van Besien, Yan Sun, Minoti Hiremath, Willis Navarro, Susan Prockop
Affiliations: Atara Biotherapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Washington University, Cornell University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Abstract TPS6092: Tabelecleucel in combination with pembrolizumab (Pembro) in platinum-pretreated, recurrent/metastatic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (EBV+NPC)
Poster Presentation Date and Time: Saturday, June 1, 2019, 1:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. CDT
Session Title: Head and Neck Cancer
Location: Poster Board 79b, Hall A, McCormick Place, South Building, Chicago, IL
Authors: Lillian L. Siu, Joshua Bauml, Douglas Adkins, A. Dimitrios Colevas, Cesar Perez, Jennifer Choe, Yang Zhang, Wen Shi, Willis Navarro, Missak Haigentz Jr, Guilherme Rabinowits, David Pfister
Affiliations: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Perelman School of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Stanford Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duke University, Atara Biotherapeutics, Morristown Medical Center/Atlantic Health System, Miami Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
About EBV+ NPC
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a head and neck cancer that is primarily EBV-associated. Historical median survival rates are less than one year for patients with metastatic disease. There are no approved targeted therapies for NPC available today.
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 technology platform leverages research collaborations with leading academic institutions with the Company’s scientific, clinical, regulatory and manufacturing expertise. Atara’s pipeline includes tab-cel® (tabelecleucel), which is in Phase 3 development for patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ PTLD) as well as in earlier stage development for other EBV-associated hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); T-cell immunotherapies targeting EBV antigens believed to be important for the potential treatment of multiple sclerosis; and next-generation chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) immunotherapies. The company was founded in 2012 and is co-located in South San Francisco and Southern California. Our Southern California hub is anchored by the state-of-the-art Atara T-cell Operations and Manufacturing (ATOM) facility in Thousand Oaks, California. For additional information about the company, please visit atarabio.com.
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 use EBV-CTLp as a biomarker of clinical response to tab-cel® in patients with EBV-driven diseases; and Atara’s ongoing Phase 1b/2 study of tab-cel® in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with platinum-resistant or recurrent EBV-associated NPC. 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 Biotherapeutics
650-410-3012
jcraighead@atarabio.com
John Grimaldi, Burns McClellan
212-213-0006 x362
jgrimaldi@burnsmc.com
Media:
Nancie Steinberg, Burns McClellan
212-213-0006 x318
nsteinberg@burnsmc.com
Released June 1, 2019