On December 8, 2022 Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNSE), an immuno-oncology company focused on the discovery and development of next-generation therapeutics for cancer patients, reported that a streamlining and realignment of resources to support its key indications and programs, including its lead antibody, SNS-101, a conditionally active antibody targeting the immune checkpoint VISTA, as well as its other TMAb (Tumor Microenvironment Activated biologics) platform programs (Press release, Sensei Biotherapeutics, DEC 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234624927]).
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In connection with this announcement, the Company will close its research site in Boston and reduce its total workforce by approximately 40%. The Company expects that such reduction in operating expenses, including employee-related costs and reduced occupancy costs, will extend Sensei’s estimated cash runway into the second half of 2025.
The Company will maintain its Rockville, Maryland research facility, where antibody discovery and production in support of SNS-101 and other TMAb programs is conducted, while maintaining a smaller business office in the Boston area. Sensei plans to relocate any ongoing work at its Boston research site to its Rockville, Maryland site.
"Our Board of Directors and management team remain focused on ensuring that Sensei is well positioned to execute on our near-term clinical and preclinical milestones. As we continue to progress the development of SNS-101 towards an IND in the coming months, we have made the strategic decision to reduce our early-stage R&D expenses related to certain discovery stage targets to more closely align with our strategic and financial goals," said John Celebi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sensei Biotherapeutics. "Today’s announcement follows a thoughtful decision-making process, where we ultimately determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to invest our resources where we believe they will have the greatest potential near-term impact. Decisions that impact our people are always extremely difficult, and I would like to express my gratitude to our departing employees for their hard work and service. We are committed to providing support for our impacted colleagues and to helping them identify other opportunities during this transition."
In conjunction with these announcements, Robert Pierce, M.D., Sensei’s Chief R&D Officer, will move to a consulting role as a Science Fellow, effective December 7, 2022, and Edward van der Horst, Ph.D., Sensei’s Senior Vice President, Biologics Discovery & Early Development, has been promoted to Chief Scientific Officer, effective December 7, 2022.
Dr. Edward van der Horst, Ph.D. has over 20 years of research and development experience with a strong focus on antibody drug development across diverse target classes in oncology. He has been instrumental in the discovery and development of several clinical-stage therapeutic antibodies, including a first-generation anti-VISTA antibody that is currently in clinical trials as well as the first clinical stage anti-HER3 antibody. During his time at Sensei, Dr. van der Horst has overseen the discovery and early development of SNS-101, Sensei’s conditionally active anti-VISTA antibody, as well as other TMAb platform drug programs. Prior to joining Sensei in 2019, Dr. van der Horst worked at Zenith Epigenetics Ltd., Igenica Biotherapeutics Inc., OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Tularik, Inc. (now Amgen) and U3 Pharma GmbH (now Daiichi-Sankyo). Dr. van der Horst earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry and conducted his master’s thesis at Max-Planck Institute of Neurobiology. He graduated with an M.S. in chemistry from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Sensei continues to advance SNS-101 through investigational new drug-enabling studies, and intends to submit an Investigational New Drug application (IND) in or prior to April 2023. The Company has reported differentiated preclinical data demonstrating anti-tumor effects, promising pharmacokinetic properties and a superior cytokine release profile compared with non-conditional anti-VISTA therapies. While it advances SNS-101 into the clinic in the near-term, Sensei will continue discovery work for its discovery-stage programs targeting VSIG-4 and ENTPDase1, also known as CD39.