On August 8, 2023 Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders, reported business highlights and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 (Press release, Fate Therapeutics, AUG 8, 2023, View Source [SID1234633968]).
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"We have shown great resilience in advancing our most innovative and differentiated programs while reducing expenses during the first six months of 2023, creating an operating runway into the second half of 2025 that enables us to achieve key milestones across our pipeline," said Scott Wolchko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fate Therapeutics. "We have commenced Phase 1 study start-up activities for our FT522 ADR-armed, CD19-targeted CAR NK cell program for B-cell lymphoma, where we intend to assess FT522 with and without administration of conditioning chemotherapy to patients. We have also initiated GMP manufacturing of FT825/ONO-8250 under our solid tumor collaboration with ONO Pharmaceutical, and plan to submit an IND application in the second half of 2023 for this multiplexed-engineered, HER2-targeted CAR T-cell program. Finally, we continue to preclinically assess the potential of our off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cellular immunotherapies to selectively target and durably deplete pathogenic immune cells, and are evaluating opportunities for clinical expansion into autoimmunity."
NK Cell Programs
Phase 1 Start-up Ongoing for FT522 ADR-armed, CD19-targeted CAR NK Cell Program. FT522 is the Company’s off-the-shelf, multiplexed-engineered, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived natural killer (NK) cell product candidate that incorporates five synthetic controls of cell function. It is the Company’s first product candidate armed with its proprietary alloimmune defense receptor (ADR) technology, which is comprised of a synthetic engineered receptor targeting 4-1BB and is designed to promote anti-tumor activity without requiring administration of intensive conditioning chemotherapy to patients. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the clinical investigation of FT522 in combination with CD20-targeted monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy in patients with relapsed / refractory B-cell lymphoma. The dose-escalation stage of the study is designed to assess the safety and activity of FT522 with and without administration of intensive conditioning chemotherapy to patients. The Company is conducting Phase 1 study start-up activities at multiple sites, and plans to initiate patient enrollment with a three-dose treatment schedule at 300 million cells per dose. The Company is also currently evaluating in preclinical studies the potential of FT522 to induce an immunologic reset in patients with autoimmune disorders by selectively targeting and durably depleting pathogenic immune cells, including disease-causing B cells, plasma cells, and auto-reactive T cells.
FT576 BCMA-targeted CAR NK Cell Program Accruing Patients in Three-dose Treatment Cohorts. The Company’s Phase 1 study of FT576, its multiplexed-engineered, BCMA-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cell product candidate for relapsed / refractory multiple myeloma, is currently enrolling patients in two, three-dose treatment cohorts at 1 billion cells per dose. The Company has treated the first patient as monotherapy, and has also treated the first patient in combination with CD38-targeted mAb to assess the therapeutic potential of dual-antigen targeting of myeloma cells. Patient enrollment in each of the three-dose treatment cohorts is proceeding independently.
T-cell Programs
First-of-kind FT819 Program Advancing in Single-dose Escalation Cohorts for B-cell Malignancies. The Company’s landmark Phase 1 clinical trial of FT819 is the first-ever clinical investigation of a T-cell product candidate manufactured from a clonal master iPSC line. FT819 incorporates several novel synthetic controls of cell function, including the integration of a novel CD19-targeted 1XX CAR construct into the T-cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) locus, which is intended to promote uniform CAR expression, enhance T-cell potency, and prevent graft-versus-host disease. The Company is currently enrolling patients in single-dose treatment cohorts at 540 million cells in B-cell lymphoma and at 360 million cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
2H23 IND Submission Planned for HER2-targeted CAR T-cell Program for Solid Tumors. Under the Company’s collaboration with ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ONO), the companies are co-developing FT825/ONO-8250, an iPSC-derived CAR T-cell product candidate that incorporates seven novel synthetic controls designed to enhance effector cell function and overcome unique challenges in treating solid tumors. The Company is currently conducting IND-enabling activities and GMP manufacturing of FT825/ONO-8250, and plans to submit an IND application to the FDA in the second half of 2023 to jointly conduct a Phase 1 study for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive solid tumors. The multiplexed-engineered, iPSC-derived CAR T-cell product candidate incorporates a novel HER2-targeted binding domain with a differentiated activity profile, a synthetic CXCR2 receptor to promote cell trafficking, a synthetic TGFβ receptor to redirect immunosuppressive signals in the tumor microenvironment, and a synthetic interleukin-7 receptor fusion protein to enhance T-cell function.
Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Cash & Investment Position: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2023 were $385.2 million. In addition, as of June 30, 2023, cash receivables from the Company’s collaboration with ONO were $2.8 million.
Total Revenue: Revenue was $0.9 million for the second quarter of 2023, which was derived from the Company’s conduct of preclinical development activities for a second collaboration candidate targeting an undisclosed solid tumor antigen under its collaboration with ONO.
Total Operating Expenses: For the second quarter of 2023, GAAP operating expenses were $63.5 million, including research and development expenses of $40.9 million and general and administrative expenses of $22.6 million. Such amounts included $12.9 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense.
Shares Outstanding: Common shares outstanding were 98.5 million, and preferred shares outstanding were 2.8 million, as of June 30, 2023. Each preferred share is convertible into five common shares.
Today’s Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will conduct a conference call today, Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET to review financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. In order to participate in the conference call, please register using the conference link here. The live webcast can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.fatetherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available on the Company’s website beginning approximately two hours after the event.