On October 31, 2024 Lyell Immunopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LYEL), a clinical-stage T-cell reprogramming company advancing a pipeline of next-generation CAR T-cell therapies for patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies, reported that it has completed its acquisition of ImmPACT Bio USA Inc. ("ImmPACT"), a privately-owned clinical-stage cell therapy company (Press release, Lyell Immunopharma, OCT 31, 2024, View Source [SID1234647604]). The acquisition strengthens Lyell’s clinical-stage pipeline of CAR T-cell therapies and complements its suite of innovative technologies designed to generate longer-lasting, functional T cells to achieve more durable outcomes for patients. Lyell will accelerate the development of IMPT-314, a dual-targeting CD19/20 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell product candidate for hematologic malignancies, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In connection with the acquisition, Sumant Ramachandra, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, the former Chief Executive Officer of ImmPACT Bio, has been appointed to the Lyell Board of Directors.
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"We’re excited to welcome ImmPACT to Lyell and look forward to working together to transform the treatment of cancer with next-generation cell therapies that offer patients improved outcomes," stated Lynn Seely, M.D., Lyell’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are focused on accelerating the development of IMPT-314 for patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and look forward to presenting initial data from the Phase 1-2 trial of IMPT-314 in patients treated in the 3rd line CAR-naïve setting at a major medical conference later this year."
"On behalf of my fellow directors, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Ramachandra to the Lyell Board," stated Rick Klausner, M.D., chair of Lyell’s Board of Directors. "Dr. Ramachandra’s experience and passion for developing innovative therapies for patients will help guide us as we integrate our two organizations and advance a pipeline of next-generation CAR T-cell therapies."
Dr. Ramachandra has served as the Chief Executive Officer of ImmPACT Bio USA, Inc. since November 2021. He also served as a member of the board of directors of ImmPACT from December 2021 to October 2024. Prior to joining ImmPACT, Dr. Ramachandra was most recently Chief Science, Technology and Medical Officer of Baxter International. In addition to these responsibilities, he was appointed President of Baxter Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Baxter, he worked at Pfizer, most recently as Senior Vice President, Head of Research & Development, Pfizer Essential Health. He served as Chief Scientific Officer at Hospira from 2008 to 2015 prior to Pfizer’s acquisition of Hospira in 2015. Before entering the industry in 2000, he was an intern and resident physician, medical services, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ramachandra completed his undergraduate degree in biochemistry, graduate degree (Ph.D.) in experimental pathology in the study of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and his medical degree (M.D.) at Rutgers University. In addition, he earned his M.B.A. at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
As previously disclosed, following the closing of this acquisition, Lyell expects its cash balance will fund operations into 2027, through important clinical milestones for each pipeline program, including initiation of a pivotal trial for IMPT-314, which is expected to start in 2025.