iPSC-derived CAR T-cell Product Candidate Incorporates Seven Synthetic Controls of Cell Function including a Novel HER2-targeted Antigen Binding Domain

Phase 1 Study is Being Conducted in Collaboration with Ono Pharmaceutical

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders, today announced the initiation of enrollment for its Phase 1 clinical trial of FT825 / ONO-8250, a multiplexed-engineered, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell product candidate targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The iPSC-derived CAR T-cell product candidate incorporates a novel HER2-targeted antigen binding domain and is designed to overcome unique challenges in treating solid tumors. The Phase 1 study of FT825 / ONO-8250 is being conducted under a strategic collaboration with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Ono).

“Since the formation of our partnership with Ono in 2018, we have worked closely together to pioneer the manufacture of CD8 alpha-beta T cells from iPSCs and to discover and integrate novel synthetic controls of cell function into our iPSC-derived CAR T-cell product platform for safe and effective treatment of solid tumors, including functional elements designed to promote cell trafficking, resist immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment, and preferentially target cancer cells,” said Scott Wolchko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fate Therapeutics. “The preclinical data for FT825 / ONO-8250 indicate a highly-differentiated therapeutic profile across a broad range of solid tumors, with the novel HER2-targeted antigen binding domain demonstrating selective targeting of cancer cells expressing HER2 including those with low expression. We are excited to initiate the Phase 1 study in collaboration with Ono and assess the potential to benefit patients with hard-to-treat advanced solid tumors who currently have limited treatment options.”

Designed using the Company’s iPSC Product Platform, FT825 / ONO-8250 incorporates seven novel synthetic controls of cell function including a CXCR2 receptor to promote cell trafficking, a chimeric TGFβ receptor to redirect immunosuppressive signals in the tumor microenvironment, and a high-affinity, non-cleavable CD16a receptor to enable antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Preclinical data of FT825 / ONO-8250 presented at the 2023 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Annual Meeting demonstrated that the profile of the novel HER2-targeted antigen binding domain is unique and differentiated from that of trastuzumab, exhibiting similar potency with greater specificity for cancer cells expressing HER2.

The Phase 1 study is designed to investigate a single dose of FT825 / ONO-8250 as monotherapy and in combination with monoclonal antibody therapy in previously-treated patients with advanced solid tumors. The dose escalation and dose expansion portions of the trial are expected to evaluate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics as well as anti-tumor activity by overall response rate, duration of response and disease control rate.

Under the terms of its Collaboration and Option Agreement with Ono, Fate will jointly develop and commercialize FT825 / ONO-8250 with Ono in the U.S. and Europe, and Ono maintains exclusive development and commercialization rights for FT825 / ONO-8250 in the rest of the world. Fate is eligible to receive clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments as well as tiered royalties on net sales outside of the United States and Europe by Ono. The parties are currently conducting preclinical development of an additional solid tumor program targeting an undisclosed tumor-associated antigen.

About Fate Therapeutics’ iPSC Product Platform
The Company’s proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform enables mass production of off-the-shelf, multiplexed-engineered cell products that are selectively designed, incorporate novel synthetic controls of cell function, and are intended to deliver multiple mechanisms of therapeutic importance to patients. Human iPSCs possess the unique dual properties of unlimited self-renewal and differentiation potential into all cell types of the body. The Company’s platform combines multiplexed engineering and single-cell selection of human iPSCs to create clonal master iPSC lines. Analogous to master cell lines used to mass produce biopharmaceutical drug products such as monoclonal antibodies, the Company utilizes its clonal master iPSC lines as a renewable cell source to manufacture multiplexed-engineered cell products which are well-defined and uniform in composition, can be stored in inventory for off-the-shelf availability, can be combined and administered with other therapies, and can potentially reach a broad patient population. As a result, the Company’s platform is uniquely designed to overcome numerous limitations associated with the manufacture of cell therapies using patient- or donor-sourced cells. Fate Therapeutics’ iPSC product platform is supported by an intellectual property portfolio of over 400 issued patents and 450 pending patent applications.

About Fate Therapeutics, Inc.
Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders. Using its proprietary iPSC product platform, the Company has established a leadership position in creating multiplexed-engineered iPSC lines and in the manufacture and clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell products. The Company’s effector cell pipeline includes multiplexed-engineered, iPSC-derived natural killer (NK) cell and T-cell product candidates, which incorporate novel synthetic controls of cell function, such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to target tumor-associated antigens, and are intended to deliver multiple mechanisms of therapeutic importance to patients including in combination with well-established cancer therapies. Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.fatetherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements regarding the progress of and plans related to the Company's product candidates, clinical studies and preclinical research and development programs, the therapeutic and market potential of the Company’s research and development programs and product candidates, the Company’s clinical and product development strategy, and the Company’s expectations regarding progress and timelines, and the objectives, plans and goals of its collaboration with Ono. These and any other forward-looking statements in this release are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company’s research and development programs and product candidates may not demonstrate the requisite safety, efficacy, or other attributes to warrant further development or to achieve regulatory approval, the risk that results observed in prior studies of the Company’s product candidates, including preclinical studies and clinical trials, will not be observed in ongoing or future studies involving these product candidates, the risk of a delay or difficulties in the manufacturing of the Company’s product candidates or in the initiation and conduct of, or enrollment of patients in, any clinical trials, the risk that the Company may cease or delay preclinical or clinical development of any of its product candidates for a variety of reasons (including requirements that may be imposed by regulatory authorities on the initiation or conduct of clinical trials, changes in the therapeutic, regulatory, or competitive landscape for which the Company’s product candidates are being developed, the amount and type of data to be generated or otherwise to support regulatory approval, difficulties or delays in patient enrollment and continuation in the Company’s ongoing and planned clinical trials, difficulties in manufacturing or supplying the Company’s product candidates for clinical testing, and any adverse events or other negative results that may be observed during preclinical or clinical development), the risk that its product candidates may not produce therapeutic benefits or may cause other unanticipated adverse effects, the risk that the Company may not comply with its obligations under and otherwise maintain its collaboration agreement with Ono or other parties with which the Company may enter into future collaborations on the agreed upon terms, the risk that research funding and milestone payments received by the Company under its collaboration may be less than expected, and the risk that the Company may incur operating expenses in amounts greater than anticipated. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Company’s most recently filed periodic report, and from time to time in the Company’s press releases and other investor communications. Fate Therapeutics is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Christina Tartaglia
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212.362.1200
christina.tartaglia@sternir.com