Eterna Therapeutics Announces Research Collaboration to Develop Advanced Gene-Edited iPS Cell Therapies
01 November 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 a sponsored research agreement
with Michael Andreeff, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Leukemia at The
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MD Anderson”).
Under the agreement, Dr. Andreeff will evaluate the capacity of
Eterna’s gene-edited induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell
therapeutic candidates to stimulate enhanced immune responses,
including their effects on various aspects of T-cell mediated
immunity, and to promote multilineage differentiation and
hematopoietic regeneration in vivo. The Company anticipates that
this work will accelerate the development of these therapeutic
candidates for the treatment of various diseases including acute
myeloid leukemia (AML) and solid tumors. Dr. Andreeff is a member
of Eterna’s Scientific Advisory Board.
“We are excited to announce this research agreement to advance a
central pillar of Eterna’s pipeline: allogeneic cell therapies for
the treatment of cancer,” said Matt Angel, Ph.D., Interim Chief
Executive Officer of Eterna. “This work has the potential to
accelerate and expand the applications of the allogeneic cell
therapy platform that we obtained last year through our acquisition
of Novellus Therapeutics.”
Eterna’s cells, which are made using mRNA-based cell
reprogramming and gene editing methods, have been shown to possess
enhanced immunomodulatory capacity as described by Hashimoto, et
al. at the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy
2021 Annual Meeting, and Eterna believes the advantages of its
cells include exceptional manufacturing consistency due to the use
of a highly characterized clonal iPS cell source.
“Eterna’s completely non-viral approach to cell engineering
avoids the risks inherent in other methods,” said Roger Sidhu,
M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Eterna. “We are particularly
interested in testing the ability of these cells to home to target
tissues and enhance T-cell mediated immunity and hematopoietic
regeneration.”
DisclosureDr. Andreeff receives compensation as
a member of Eterna Therapeutics’ Scientific Advisory Board, and
this financial relationship has been disclosed to MD Anderson’s
Conflict of Interest Committee in accordance with institutional
policy.
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. The Company plans to advance
its technology and pipeline both internally and through strategic
partnerships. For more information, please visit
www.eternatx.com.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:EternaPR@westwicke.com
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