• Began dosing of TC-210 in the Phase 1/2 trial for patients with mesothelin-expressing solid tumors and an interim update anticipated in 4Q19/1Q20
• Leading clinical sites participating in the TC-210 trial include Sarah Cannon Research Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute
• IND filing for TC-110 in patients with CD19+ non-Hodgkin lymphoma or adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia anticipated in 2H19

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TCR²Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRR), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing the next generation of novel T cell therapies for patients suffering from cancer, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 and provided a corporate update.

"In the second quarter of 2019, we made significant progress with our two lead programs TC-210 and TC-110," said Garry Menzel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of TCR² Therapeutics. "We began patient dosing in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial with TC-210 and partnered with the National Cancer Institute, an institution integral in the validation of targeting mesothelin, to further understand how our unique TRuC-T cells impact mesothelin-positive solid tumors. Additionally, we accelerated our ability to move programs toward and through the clinic by expanding our leadership team with experts that deepen our core competencies - manufacturing, IND enablement and innovation. We remain in a strong financial position with a cash runway into 2022 and look forward to providing updates on TC-210 as we progress through the clinic."

Recent Developments

• TCR² has begun dosing in its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of TC-210 to treat patients with mesothelin-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ovarian cancer, malignant pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma or cholangiocarcinoma.
• TCR² announced that it entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to collaborate on the use of TCR²’s proprietary TRuC-T cells as a cancer therapeutic agent against mesothelin in the Company’s ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of TC-210.
• TCR² expanded its manufacturing and immuno-oncology expertise by hiring Vice Presidents Nigel Williams, Robert Tighe and Dario Gutierrez, Ph.D. The expansion of the leadership team strengthens the Company’s core competencies of manufacturing, IND enablement and innovation as it advances a broad portfolio of next generation TRuC-T cells.
• The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued patents with claims covering TCR²’s T cell receptor (TCR) Fusion Construct T cells (TRuC^TM-T cells) that express anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and anti-CD19 TCR fusion proteins, including TC-110.

TC-210 Clinical Trial Design

• The Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT03907852) is evaluating the safety and efficacy of TC-210, TCR²’s T-cell receptor fusion construct against mesothelin at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the NCI. The trial is enrolling patients with mesothelin expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ovarian cancer, cholangiocarcinoma or malignant pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma.
• The Phase 1 portion of the clinical trial utilizes a 3+3 design with four escalating dose levels for TC-210. At each dose level, TC-210 is first administered without lymphodepletion and then following lymphodepleting chemotherapy. The primary objective for the study is patient safety with a key secondary objective to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). In addition to standard measures of safety and efficacy, translational work includes the assessment of TC-210 T cells for expansion, trafficking, persistence and phenotypic changes.
• Under the terms of the CRADA, NCI will conduct translational studies, measuring potential biomarkers in patients treated with TCR² Therapeutics’ proprietary mesothelin-specific T cell-based therapy to better understand the pharmacodynamics of TC-210.
• In the Phase 2 portion of the clinical trial, approximately 50 patients are initially planned to receive TC-210 at the RP2D in four distinct cohorts according to their cancer diagnosis: NSCLC, ovarian cancer, malignant pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma and cholangiocarcinoma. Each cohort includes ten patients, except the NSCLC cohort which includes 20 patients with eight patients to receive TC-210 as single agent and 12 to receive TC-210 in combination with a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blocking antibody.

Financial Highlights

• Cash Position: TCR² ended the second quarter of 2019 with $180.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments compared to $123.2 million as of December 31, 2018. Net cash used in operations was $21.0 million in the first half of 2019 compared to $7.7 million in the first half of 2018.
   
• R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $8.8 million for the second quarter of 2019 compared to $5.2 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase in R&D expenses is primarily related to increase in headcount and activities related to the start of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of the Company’s lead solid tumor product candidate, TC-210.
   
• G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2019 compared to $1.6 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs and cost associated with operations as a public company.
   
• Net loss: Net loss was $11.1 million for the second quarter of 2019 compared to $6.2 million for the second quarter of 2018, driven predominantly by increased R&D expense in the quarter.

Upcoming Events

TCR² Therapeutics management are scheduled to participate at the following upcoming conferences.

• BTIG Biotechnology Conference 2019: Ian Somaiya, Chief Financial Officer of TCR² Therapeutics, will be available for one-on-one meetings on Monday, August 12, 2019 in New York, NY.
• 2019 Wedbush PacGrow Healthcare Conference: Garry Menzel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of TCR² Therapeutics, will present on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 8:00am ET in New York, NY.

About TCR² Therapeutics

TCR² Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing the next generation of novel T cell therapies for patients suffering from cancer. TCR²’s proprietary T cell receptor (TCR) Fusion Construct T cells (TRuC^TM-T cells) specifically recognize and kill cancer cells by harnessing signaling from the entire TCR, independent of human leukocyte antigens (HLA). In preclinical studies, TRuC-T cells have demonstrated superior anti-tumor activity compared to chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells), while exhibiting lower levels of cytokine release. The Company’s lead TRuC-T cell product candidate, TC-210, is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial to treat patients with mesothelin-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ovarian cancer, malignant pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma. For more information about TCR², please visit www.tcr2.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. The use of words such as "may," "will," "could", "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "endeavor," "potential," "continue" or the negative of such words or other similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding anticipated updates from the TC-210 Phase 1/2 trial in 4Q19/1Q20, an anticipated IND filing for TC-110 in 2H19, the Company’s ability to advance programs into and through the clinic, and the Company’s cash runway into 2022.

The expressed or implied forward-looking statements included in this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation: uncertainties inherent in clinical studies and in the availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical studies; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial; whether results from preclinical studies or earlier clinical studies will be predictive of the results of future trials; the expected timing of submissions for regulatory approval or review by governmental authorities, including review under accelerated approval processes; orphan drug designation eligibility; regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products; TCR²’s ability to maintain sufficient manufacturing capabilities to support its research, development and commercialization efforts, whether TCR²'s cash resources will be sufficient to fund TCR²'s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; and other risks set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in TCR²’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although TCR² believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur.

Moreover, except as required by law, neither TCR² nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Any forward-looking statement included in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor and Media Contact:

Carl Mauch
Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(617) 949-5667
carl.mauch@tcr2.com

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Source: TCR2 Therapeutics