Eterna Therapeutics Completes Name Change, Acquires Option to License iPSC-Derived NK and T Cell Therapies from Exacis Biotherapeutics
17 October 2022 - 11:30PM
Eterna Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ERNA) (“Eterna” or the
“Company”), a biopharmaceutical company using advanced cell
engineering technology to develop transformational new medicines,
today announced it has entered into an option agreement with Exacis
Biotherapeutics Inc. (“Exacis”) granting Eterna the right to
negotiate an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and
commercialize up to four iPS cell-derived natural killer cell
(“iNK”) and/or T cell (“iT”) programs for hematologic malignancies
and solid tumors.
“Exacis’ preclinical data, presented earlier this year at the
25th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell
Therapy (ASGCT), provide compelling evidence that its iNK and iT
cells exhibit the characteristics needed for the development of
next-generation off-the-shelf iPS cell therapies for the treatment
of cancer,” said Matt Angel, Ph.D., Interim Chief Executive Officer
of Eterna.
Exacis makes its cells using non-viral, mRNA-based cell
engineering, including a proprietary ‘stealthing’ approach designed
to increase the persistence of therapeutic cells in vivo and
minimize or eliminate the need for patient pre-conditioning.
Exacis’ technology includes high-yield manufacturing processes and
the ability to add advanced targeting molecules, including CARs and
TCRs. “We believe that Exacis’ approach will be preferred by
regulatory authorities over earlier-generation iPS cell
technologies, many of which rely on viruses or potentially
mutagenic pieces of DNA called episomes,” said Dr. Angel.
“We are thrilled to partner with Eterna on these exciting
programs,” said Gregory Fiore, M.D., President and CEO of Exacis.
Dr. Fiore also serves as a member of Eterna’s board of directors.
“We look forward to working with Eterna to bring these novel
next-generation iNK and iT cell therapies to patients with cancer
who need new treatment options.”
Under the agreement, Eterna and Exacis have until December 31,
2022 to negotiate and execute a license agreement.
The Company also announced completion of its name change from
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. to Eterna Therapeutics Inc.
About Eterna TherapeuticsEterna is focused on
developing advanced therapies using state-of-the-art mRNA cell
engineering technology. Its mission is to realize the potential of
cell engineering to provide patients with transformational new
medicines. The Company has in-licensed a portfolio of over 100
patents covering key cell engineering technologies, including what
it believes are the most widely used methods for therapeutic gene
editing currently in clinical development. Eterna has multiple
next-generation cell and gene-editing therapies in preclinical
development for various indications. For more information, please
visit www.eternatx.com.
About Exacis BiotherapeuticsExacis is a
development stage immuno-oncology company focused on harnessing the
human immune system to cure cancer by engineering next generation
off-the-shelf NK and T cell therapies aimed at hematologic
malignancies and solid tumors. Exacis was founded in 2020 with an
exclusive global license to a broad suite of patents covering the
use of mRNA based cell reprogramming and gene editing technologies
for use in generating engineered NK and T cells for oncology
applications.Exacis’ approach avoids the use of DNA and viruses and
instead uses a proprietary mRNA based technology. Exacis uses the
technology to generate iPSCs and to edit their genome to create
stealthed, performance enhanced allogeneic NK and T cell products,
termed ExaNK™, ExaCAR-NK™ and ExaCAR-T™ cells.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended
to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements are any statements that are not statements of historical
fact and may be identified by terminology such as “believe,”
“could,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “possible,”
“potential,” “project,” “will” or other similar words and the
negatives of such words. Forward-looking statements are based on
current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual
results could differ materially from those stated or implied in any
forward-looking statement as a result of various factors,
including, but not limited to, uncertainties related to: (i) the
evolution of Eterna’s business model into a platform company
focused on cellular, gene editing and cytokine programs; (ii)
Eterna’s ability to successfully, cost-effectively and efficiently
develop its technology and products; (iii) Eterna’s ability to
successfully commence clinical trials of any products on a timely
basis or at all; (iv) Eterna’s ability to successfully fund and
manage the growth of its development activities; (v) Eterna ’s
ability to obtain regulatory approvals of its products for
commercialization; and (vi) uncertainties related to the impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic on the business and financial condition of
Eterna, including on the timing and cost of its clinical trials.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions
of future events. The forward-looking statements made in this
communication speak only as of the date on which they were made,
and Eterna does not undertake any obligation to update the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events that
occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof, except as
required by applicable law. Factors that may cause Eterna’s actual
results to differ from those expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements contained in this press release are more
fully disclosed in Eterna’s periodic public filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly under the heading
“Risk Factors” in Eterna’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2021, as amended, as well as under similar
headings in Eterna’s subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Investor Relations
Contact:investors@eternatx.com
Media Contact:Jon YuICR
Westwicke475-395-5375EternaPR@westwicke.com
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