- Superior ATLAS TM platform for neoantigen selection (1) - - Exploring strategic alternatives for GEN-003 - - Announces corporate restructuring -
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNCA ), a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing novel vaccines and immunotherapies targeting T cell antigens, today announced a strategic shift to immuno-oncology and a focus on the development of neoantigen cancer vaccines, including GEN-009, its lead candidate for which it expects to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application by early 2018. Genocea also announced it is exploring strategic alternatives for GEN-003, its Phase 3-ready investigational immunotherapy for the treatment of genital herpes. Consequently, Genocea is ceasing GEN-003 spending and activities and is reducing its workforce by approximately 40 percent.
Genocea has confidence that it is positioned for leadership in the development of neoantigen cancer vaccines through its unique antigen identification capabilities and vaccinology expertise. More specifically, the company believes that antigen selection is a crucial determinant of neoantigen vaccine efficacy and that previously presented head-to-head data show that ATLAS, the only platform to comprehensively identify the actual neoantigens to which a patient’s CD4 + and CD8 + T cells respond, is a superior approach for identifying neoantigens for personalized vaccines compared to methods used by others developing similar products.
The company plans to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for GEN-009 in a range of tumor types in the first half of 2018 and expects to report initial immunogenicity data in the first half of 2019. GEN-009 is an adjuvanted peptide vaccine designed to direct a patient’s T cells to attack their tumor. Antigens in a patient’s vaccine are selected by Genocea’s proprietary ATLAS platform.
Chip Clark, president and chief executive officer of Genocea, commented: “With our research and development efforts now focused entirely on neoantigen cancer vaccines, we believe the power of ATLAS to identify the right vaccine antigens, combined with our vaccinology expertise, gives us the opportunity to create value for our shareholders by developing best-in-class vaccines for cancer patients and achieving leadership in this exciting field.
“To our teammates who’ve given so much to advance GEN-003, we offer our profound thanks for their dedication. Due to their efforts, GEN-003 has the potential to serve as a cornerstone treatment for genital herpes infections. We see this strategic process, which is already underway, as the best way to drive to commercial launch of and maximize shareholder value from GEN-003.”
Financial Guidance As a result of the workforce restructuring, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of the third quarter, Genocea estimates annualized savings of approximately $6.5 million in personnel-related costs, with estimated one-time severance and related costs of approximately $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2017. Genocea now expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to support its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the middle of 2018.
About Genocea Biosciences, Inc. Genocea is harnessing the power of T cell immunity to develop life-changing vaccines and immunotherapies. While traditional immunotherapy discovery methods have largely used predictive methods to propose T cell targets, or antigens, Genocea has successfully developed ATLAS™, its proprietary technology platform, to identify clinically relevant antigens of T cells based on actual human immune responses. Genocea is currently using ATLAS in immuno-oncology applications to develop neoantigen cancer vaccines and exploring partnership opportunities for general cancer vaccines and a vaccine targeting cancers caused by Epstein-Barr Virus. Genocea is exploring strategic alternatives for GEN-003, its Phase 3-ready immunotherapy candidate for the treatment of genital herpes. For more information, please visit www.genocea.com .
About Neoantigen Cancer Vaccines and GEN-009 Neoantigens are personalized tumor mutations that are seen as ‘foreign’ by an individual’s immune system (2) . Data published in recent years have indicated that an individual’s response to neoantigens drives checkpoint inhibitor efficacy (3) and that it is possible to vaccinate an individual against their own neoantigens (4) , GEN-009 is an adjuvanted neoantigen peptide vaccine that is designed to direct a patient’s immune system to attack their tumor. GEN-009’s neoantigen peptides are identified by Genocea’s proprietary ATLAS platform, which recalls a patient’s pre-existing CD4 + and CD8 + T cell immune responses to their tumor. Following ATLAS neoantigen identification, Genocea will manufacture a personal vaccine for each patient.
References (1) https://www.genocea.com/assets/Kaufmann_AACR2017.pdf ; (2) Yadav, Gubin, 2015; (3) Schumacher, Schreiber, 2015; (4) Ott, Sahin, 2017
Forward-Looking Statements Statements herein relating to future business performance, conditions or strategies and other financial and business matters, including statements regarding Genocea’s product candidates, and its ability to finance contemplated development activities and fund operations for a specified period, the cause, size, timing and impact of Genocea’s workforce reduction and related activities, including costs and annual savings anticipated in connection with the reduction, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Genocea cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that change over time. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or historical experience include risks and uncertainties, including Genocea's ability to progress any product candidates in preclinical or clinical trials; the ability of ATLAS to identify promising oncology vaccine and immunotherapy product candidates; the scope, rate and progress of its preclinical studies and clinical trials and other research and development activities; anticipated clinical trial results; anticipated timing for initiation of new clinical trials; even if the data from preclinical studies or clinical trials is positive, regulatory authorities may require additional studies for approval and the product may not prove to be safe and efficacious; Genocea's ability to enter into future collaborations with industry partners and the government and the terms, timing and success of any such collaboration; risks associated with the manufacture and supply of clinical and commercial product; the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights; Genocea's ability to obtain rights to technology; competition for clinical resources and patient enrollment from drug candidates in development by other companies with greater resources and visibility; the rate of cash utilized by Genocea in its business and the period for which existing cash will be able to fund such operation; Genocea's ability to obtain adequate financing in the future to continue its clinical programs through product licensing, co-promotional arrangements, public or private equity or debt financing or otherwise; general business conditions; competition; business abilities and judgment of personnel; the availability of qualified personnel and other factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in Genocea's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Genocea's business, financial conditions, and results of operations is contained in Genocea's filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Genocea assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements.
For media: Jennifer LaVin 207-360-0473 jennifer.lavin@genocea.com
For investors: Jonathan Poole 617-876-8191 jonathan.poole@genocea.com
