BOSTON and LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talaris Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TALS), a late-clinical stage cell therapy company developing therapies with the potential to transform the standard of care in solid organ transplantation and severe immune and blood disorders, today announced a status update on its Phase 3 FREEDOM-1 study in living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) recipients.
On October 18, 2022, the Company received a report of a patient death, which triggered a pre-specified, temporary stopping requirement and review by the FREEDOM-1 Data Monitoring Committee (DMC). After their review of this case, the DMC determined that trial enrollment and dosing may continue. The Company has reported this event and the DMC’s recommendation to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“We are exceptionally saddened by this news, and patient safety remains our top priority. Kidney disease and its related effects are why we are conducting FREEDOM-1, with the goal of improving the lives of patients undergoing kidney transplantation,” said Talaris CEO Scott Requadt.
The deceased patient was one of three study subjects reported in June 2022 to have been diagnosed with grade II acute graft-vs-host disease (aGvHD). As reported, this patient was also diagnosed with moderate chronic GvHD that was responding to treatment at the time of the update. The patient was recently hospitalized with grade IV GvHD that was complicated by serious infections leading to respiratory and renal failure, and ultimately death.
In June 2022, the Company provided a clinical update on its FREEDOM-1 study and summarized an amendment to the trial protocol following a review of all GvHD cases to date, spanning its Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies. The Company reported that the incidence of GvHD in FCR001 subjects was correlated with high CD34+ cell counts and high total nucleated cell counts in the FCR001 product. It also noted a correlation between the use of plerixafor as a donor mobilizing agent and an increased risk of GvHD, as plerixafor significantly increased CD34+ and total nucleated cell counts in the FCR001 product. The Company introduced two risk mitigation measures for GvHD in the amended trial protocol: (1) elimination of plerixafor as a donor mobilizing agent, and (2) addition of a second post-transplant dose of cyclophosphamide, which has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of severe GvHD in haplo-identical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants.1
The deceased patient had a related, same-sex donor with an HLA mismatch of 2/6. Although plerixafor was not used to mobilize this donor, the starting FCR001 material contained a high number of CD34+ cells and total nucleated cells, both of which had been identified by the Company during its review as factors that correlated with an increased risk of GvHD. The patient had not received a second post-transplant dose of cyclophosphamide as the patient was treated prior to the June 2022 protocol amendment.
At the date of this update, the other two FREEDOM-1 patients who were previously reported to have had grade II aGvHD have experienced complete resolution of their aGvHD symptoms, although one patient experienced additional flares that were also responsive to treatment.
After reviewing the facts of this case, the DMC concluded that the FREEDOM-1 protocol modifications implemented in June 2022 should be sufficient to mitigate the risk of GvHD going forward, and recommended continuation of the study without further modifications.
About the FREEDOM-1 Study
FREEDOM-1 is a randomized, controlled, open-label Phase 3 registrational study of FCR001 in 120 adult LDKT recipients in the United States. The primary endpoint of FREEDOM-1 is the proportion of kidney transplant recipients treated with FCR001 who are free from chronic IS, without biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR), at month 24 post-transplant. The last update on the FREEDOM-1 study was provided on June 30, 2022, at which time the protocol amendment for certain risk mitigation measures for GvHD was also announced.
About Talaris Therapeutics
Talaris Therapeutics, Inc. is a late-clinical stage cell therapy company developing therapies with the potential to transform the standard of care in solid organ transplantation and severe immune and blood disorders. Talaris maintains corporate offices in Boston, MA, its cell processing facility in Louisville, KY, and additional research operations in Houston, TX.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements regarding Talaris Therapeutics, Inc.’s (“Talaris,” the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) strategy, business plans and focus; the progress and timing of the preclinical and clinical development of Talaris’ programs, including FCR001. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “seek,” “predict,” “future,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” or the negative of these terms and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks associated with: the timing and anticipated timing and results of its clinical trials, strategy and future operations, including the expected timing and results from FREEDOM-1, expectations regarding the updated mobilization protocol for FREEDOM-1, the risk that the FDA may require us to pause or discontinue FREEDOM-1, the risk that the results of Talaris’ prior clinical trials may not be predictive of or consistent with future and/or final results in connection with the Company’s ongoing or future clinical trials; the therapeutic benefits expected from FCR001 and the Company’s ability to successfully demonstrate its safety and efficacy. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as well as any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Talaris’ views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Talaris explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.
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1 Elmariah H, Fuchs EJ. Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide to facilitate HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation: Mechanisms and results. Semin Hematol. 2019 Jul;56(3):183-189.
