SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 20, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRA ) today announced that its collaborating investigators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) presented data on its investigational cytotoxic T lymphocytes activated against Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV-CTL) at a Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting (AACR). Clinical data from two clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of EBV-CTL in the treatment of patients with EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) was presented. Under Atara's exclusive option agreement with MSK, Atara has the right to license the exclusive, worldwide rights to three clinical stage T-cell programs, including EBV-CTL. EBV-LPD is a serious malignancy with an unmet medical need that occurs after HCT and in other patients with immune deficiencies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted breakthrough therapy designation for EBV-CTL based on the data from the two studies.
Slides from the AACR presentation will be accessible from Atara's investor relations website at http://investors.atarabio.com/events.cfm .
When available, a webcast of the presentation can be found at the following link: http://www.aacr.org/Meetings/Pages/MeetingDet...TA9zWd0ycw .
About EBV-CTL
T-cells are a critical component of the body's immune system and can be harnessed to counteract viral infections and some cancers. By focusing the T-cells on specific proteins involved in cancers and infections, the power of the immune system can be employed to combat these diseases. EBV-CTL utilize a technology in which T-cells are collected from the blood of third-party donors and then exposed to EBV antigens. The resulting activated T-cells are then expanded, characterized, and stored for future therapeutic use in an appropriate partially HLA-matched patient, providing an "off-the-shelf", allogeneic, cellular therapeutic option for patients. In the context of EBV-LPD, the EBV-CTL find the cancer cells expressing EBV and kill them. EBV-CTL are currently being studied in two ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials (NCT00002663 and NCT01498484). EBV-CTL is an investigational product and has not been approved by the FDA or any other regulatory agency.
About Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for patients with debilitating diseases. Atara's lead programs target myostatin and activin, members of the TGF-beta family of proteins that have demonstrated the potential to have therapeutic benefit in a number of clinical indications. In September 2014, Atara Biotherapeutics entered into an exclusive option agreement with MSK, under which it has the right to license (pursuant to a negotiated form of license agreement) the exclusive, worldwide rights to three clinical stage T-cell programs, including EBV-CTL, as well as other T-cell programs that are discovered or developed by MSK pursuant to sponsored research funded by the company.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains or may imply "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Atara's current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Atara could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. For example, forward-looking statements include statements regarding the clinical development of product candidates and Atara's collaboration with MSK. These forward-looking statements are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Atara's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by law, Atara disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
INVESTOR CONTACT: Tina Gullotta, Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. 650-741-1613 MEDIA CONTACT: Susan Heins, Pure Communications, Inc. 864-286-9597
