CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unum Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: UMRX), today announced that the Company will present preclinical data on a new proprietary technology platform called Bolt-On Chimeric Receptor, or BOXR, designed to improve the effectiveness of T cells in solid tumor cancers, at the upcoming Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) meeting taking place November 7-11, 2018 in Washington, D.C.
Unum has generated a large panel of novel bolt-on transgenes, evaluated using a unique screening strategy, and has identified lead candidates most likely to enhance T cell functions in the solid tumor microenvironment. The bolt-on transgenes enhanced immunometabolism or costimulation of both ACTR- and CAR-expressing T cells and significantly improved their function under stringent in vitro and in vivo conditions.
“We are excited by this new platform, which we believe has the potential to further bolster our ACTR technology pipeline, and highlights our innovative approaches to overcome immunosuppressive challenges in solid tumors,” said Seth Ettenberg, Unum’s Chief Scientific Officer. “We look forward to continuing to explore the potential of this novel technology by selecting a lead development candidate to bring to patients in need in the clinical setting.”
Details on the presentation are as follows:
Presentation Title: Select metabolic and costimulatory bolt-on transgenes enhance chimeric receptor-bearing T cell activity against solid tumors
Presenter: Luke Barron, PhD, Unum Therapeutics
Session Title: Cell-Based Therapies for Solid Tumors
Poster Number: 216
Date & Time: Saturday, November 10th, 12:20-1:50 and 7-8:30pm
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hall E
About Unum Therapeutics
Unum Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel immunotherapy products designed to harness the power of a patient’s immune system to cure cancer. Unum’s novel proprietary technologies include Antibody-Coupled T cell Receptor (ACTR), a universal, engineered cell therapy intended to be used in combination with a wide range of tumor-specific antibodies to target different tumor types, and Bolt-On Chimeric Receptor (BOXR), an approach for improving T cell functionality to enable solid tumor cancer applications. ACTR087 and ACTR707, each used in combination with rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, are Unum’s two most advanced product candidates, currently in Phase I clinical testing in adult patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL). The Company has an additional product candidate in Phase I clinical testing: ACTR087 used in combination with the novel antibody SEA-BCMA in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Finally, the Company has an active investigational new drug application (IND) for ACTR707 used in combination with trastuzumab, an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody, to treat patients with HER2+ advanced cancer. This Phase I trial is expected to be initiated by the end of 2018.
The Company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA.
Forward looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans and prospects, our long-term growth and our ability to achieve our strategy, the anticipated timing of our clinical trials and regulatory filings, the development of our product candidates, including the four lead ACTR product candidates, the results of our clinical trials, as well as other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," or "would" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may not actually achieve the forecasts disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from the projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, including risks related to the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements, and the need for additional financing, the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates, and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" sections of our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.
Investor Contact:
Stephanie Ascher, 212-362-1200
stephanie@sternir.com
Media Contact:
Paul Kidwell, 617-680-1088
paul.kidwell@unumrx.com