HOUSTON, Aug. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Marker Therapeutics, Inc.(Nasdaq:MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications, today provided a corporate update and reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

"We continue to make progress toward advancing our planned Phase 2 trial with our novel MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML," said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker Therapeutics. "While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted hospital systems globally, we have augmented our process development for our MT-401 product, continued the buildout of our manufacturing facility and added further clinical sites for our Phase 2 AML trial. With a novel cell therapy product candidate that has demonstrated the ability to induce broad and durable immune responses in earlier clinical studies, Marker remains well-positioned to provide a potential treatment option for patients suffering from this devastating disease."

PROGRAM UPDATES

Multi-Antigen Targeted (MultiTAA) T Cell Therapies

Phase 2 AML Trial Update The Company continues to identify and add clinical trial sites in preparation for the Phase 2 AML trial initiation. The study is currently subject to a partial clinical hold on the use of a new reagent in the manufacturing processuntil the FDA reviews and accepts the final data and certificates of analysis for the new reagent. The alternate supplier has been delayed in providing the reagent but expects to ship the reagent to Marker in Q3. Once Marker receives the reagent and completes the required analyses for FDA, the Company will provide additional clarification around the timing of the AML trial enrollment.

USAN Council Approval of "Zelenoleucel" for MT-401Marker recently announced that the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council approved "zelenoleucel" as the nonproprietary (generic) name for MT-401, a MultiTAA-specific T cell product candidate for the treatment of patients with AML following allogeneic stem cell transplant in both adjuvant and active disease settings.

Pancreatic Cancer Data Presented During ASCO Updated clinical results from an ongoing investigator-sponsored Phase 1 trial led by the Baylor College of Medicine, evaluating the Company's MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, were presented during the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Virtual Annual Meeting. Data from a cohort of patients receiving MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy in the first-line setting (Arm A) were presented.

BUSINESS UPDATES

On June 30, 2020, Marker announced that the Company executed a lease agreement to establish an in-house cGMP manufacturing facility in Houston, TX. The facility is expected to be completed by year-end and operational in 2021. Marker will continue to manufacture its MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy at the Baylor College of Medicine to support the Company-sponsored AML trial until the in-house cGMP manufacturing facility is operational.

SECOND QUARTER 2020 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Cash Position and Guidance:At June 30, 2020, Marker had cash and cash equivalents of $32.1 million. The Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents will fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into Q2 2021.

R&D Expenses:Research and development expenses were$4.3 million for the quarter endedJune 30, 2020, compared to$3.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

G&A Expenses:General and administrative expenses were$2.5 million for the quarter endedJune 30, 2020, compared to $2.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Net Loss:Marker reported a net loss of$6.3 millionfor the quarter endedJune 30, 2020, compared to a net loss of$5.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

About Marker Therapeutics, Inc.Marker Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications. Marker's cell therapy technology is based on the selective expansion of non-engineered, tumor-specific T cells that recognize tumor associated antigens (i.e. tumor targets) and kill tumor cells expressing those targets. This population of T cells is designed to attack multiple tumor targets following infusion into patients and to activate the patient's immune system to produce broad spectrum anti-tumor activity. Because Marker does not genetically engineer its T cell therapies, we believe that our product candidates will be easier and less expensive to manufacture, with reduced toxicities, compared to current engineered CAR-T and TCR-based approaches, and may provide patients with meaningful clinical benefit. As a result, Marker believes its portfolio of T cell therapies has a compelling product profile, as compared to current gene-modified CAR-T and TCR-based therapies.

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Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release concerning the Company's expectations, plans, business outlook or future performance, and any other statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: our research, development and regulatory activities and expectations relating to our non-engineered multi-tumor antigen specific T cell therapies; the effectiveness of these programs or the possible range of application and potential curative effects and safety in the treatment of diseases; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the timing and success of our clinical trials, as well as clinical trials conducted by our collaborators. Forward-looking statements are by their nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and other SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov. Such risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business and the global economy. The Company assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Marker Therapeutics, Inc.Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30,

December 31,

2020

2019

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 32,124,187

$ 43,903,949

Prepaid expenses and deposits

2,632,514

1,526,442

Interest receivable

3,440

56,189

Total current assets

34,760,141

45,486,580

Non-current assets:

Property, plant and equipment, net

1,592,094

417,528

Construction in progress

2,629,141

-

Right-of-use assets, net

9,542,228

455,174

Total non-current assets

13,763,463

872,702

Total assets

$ 48,523,604

$ 46,359,282

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$ 4,528,021

$ 1,757,680

Lease liability

456,065

204,132

Warrant liability

-

31,000

Total current liabilities

4,984,086

1,992,812

Non-current liabilities:

Lease liability, net of current portion

9,025,273

280,247

Total non-current liabilities

9,025,273

280,247

Total liabilities

14,009,359

2,273,059

Commitments and contingencies

-

-

Stockholders' equity:

Preferred stock - $0.001 par value, 5 million shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

-

-

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 150 million shares authorized, 46.6 million and 45.7 million shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

46,617

45,728

Additional paid-in capital

374,828,385

371,573,909

Accumulated deficit

(340,360,757)

(327,533,414)

Total stockholders' equity

34,514,245

44,086,223

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 48,523,604

$ 46,359,282

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Marker Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2020 Operating and Financial Results - PRNewswire