Marker Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2021 Operating and Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Marker Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:MRKR) reported its Q1 2021 financial results, highlighting a net loss of $8.8 million compared to $6.5 million in Q1 2020. The company closed a public offering raising approximately $56.5 million, strengthening its cash position to $64.5 million, sufficient to fund operations into Q1 2023. Significant advancements include dosing the first patient in a Phase 2 trial for AML and the operationalization of a new cGMP facility. Expected milestones include initiating the main trial phase in Q3 2021 and completing patient enrollment by Q4 2021.

Positive

• Raised approximately $56.5 million through a public offering.
• Cash position of $64.5 million to fund operations into Q1 2023.
• First patient dosed in Phase 2 AML trial.
• Operationalization of a new cGMP manufacturing facility expected in 2021.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $8.8 million, a rise from $6.5 million in Q1 2020.
• R&D and G&A expenses increased, reflecting operational growth but raising cost concerns.

HOUSTON, May 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Marker Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications, today provided a corporate update and reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.  

"We had a productive first quarter supported by our recently completed financing, strengthening our overall cash position and enabling continued growth and expansion of our Multi-TAA pipeline," said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker Therapeutics. "In addition, we continue to make strong progress on both the clinical and manufacturing fronts. In March, we dosed the first patient in the safety lead-in portion of our Phase 2 trial in post-transplant acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and continue to activate clinical sites. In parallel, we continue to optimize the MT-401 cell therapy manufacturing process, which we believe could result in an increase in the number of T cells available for patient administration—among other benefits—as we prepare to operationalize our new in-house cGMP facility in the first half of the year."

PROGRAM UPDATES

• In March 2021, Marker dosed the first patient in the safety lead-in portion of its Phase 2 trial in AML, which is expected to enroll a total of six patients: three of which will be treated with MT-401 manufactured with a legacy reagent, and the remaining three to be treated with study drug manufactured with a new reagent from an alternate supplier.
• The clinical operations team has made considerable progress in opening sites to enroll patients for the safety lead-in portion of the AML trial. The Company has also received commitments from additional clinical sites to participate in the Phase 2 AML trial following the safety lead-in phase and anticipates activating a total of approximately 20 sites.
• Marker continues to streamline and simplify the MT-401 manufacturing process, which could potentially result in a product with a superior T cell phenotype and improved antigen specificity as compared to the original process. The new process improvements have been updated in the CMC section of the IND and will be used for all patients in the Marker AML Phase 2 clinical trial.
• Marker presented early results of robotic automation of T cell generation for the treatment of AML at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy 24th Annual Meeting on May 11, 2021. The results will also be presented at the upcoming International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy 2021 Annual Meeting, taking place virtually May 26-28, 2021.

BUSINESS UPDATES

• In March, Marker closed an underwritten public offering of 32,282,857 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $1.75 per share. The gross proceeds to Marker from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, were approximately $56.5 million.
• The Company is preparing to open its new cGMP manufacturing facility in Houston, TX, which will be used to manufacture study drug for Marker's Phase 2 AML trial (MT-401) and for future hematological and solid tumor trials, in addition to the potential commercialization of any approved products. Marker initiated the technology transfer from Baylor College of Medicine to the cGMP facility in Q1 2021 and expects the facility to be fully operational in the first half of 2021.

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM MILESTONES 

AML Trial Milestones

• Complete safety lead-in (6 patients) in Q2 2021
• Initiate main portion of Phase 2 trial in Q3 2021
• Complete enrollment of 20 patients in main portion of Phase 2 trial in Q4 2021
• Topline readout of Group 2 (active disease) in Q1 2022

Manufacturing Milestones

• Receive regulatory approval for Marker cGMP in Q2 2021
• Manufacture MT-401 at Marker cGMP for Phase 2 AML trial in Q3 2021

FIRST QUARTER 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS

• Cash Position and Guidance: At March 31, 2021, Marker had cash and cash equivalents of $64.5 million. The Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents will fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into Q1 2023.
• R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $5.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to $3.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in headcount-related expenses and infrastructure expenses due to growth of research and development operations.
• G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $3.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to $2.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
• Net Loss: Marker reported a net loss of $8.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to a net loss of $6.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its first quarter 2021 financial results and provide a corporate update today at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The webcast will be accessible in the Investors section of the Company's website at markertherapeutics.com. Individuals can participate in the conference call by dialing 877-407-8913 (domestic) or 201-689-8201 (international) and referring to the "Marker Therapeutics First Quarter 2021 Earnings Call."

About Marker Therapeutics, Inc.
Marker Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications. Marker's cell therapy technology is based on the selective expansion of non-engineered, tumor-specific T cells that recognize tumor associated antigens (i.e. tumor targets) and kill tumor cells expressing those targets. This population of T cells is designed to attack multiple tumor targets following infusion into patients and to activate the patient's immune system to produce broad spectrum anti-tumor activity. Because Marker does not genetically engineer its T cell therapies, we believe that our product candidates will be easier and less expensive to manufacture, with reduced toxicities, compared to current engineered CAR-T and TCR-based approaches, and may provide patients with meaningful clinical benefit. As a result, Marker believes its portfolio of T cell therapies has a compelling product profile, as compared to current gene-modified CAR-T and TCR-based therapies.

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Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release concerning the Company's expectations, plans, business outlook or future performance, and any other statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: our research, development and regulatory activities and expectations relating to our non-engineered multi-tumor antigen specific T cell therapies; the effectiveness of these programs or the possible range of application and potential curative effects and safety in the treatment of diseases; the timing, conduct and success of our clinical trials, including the Phase 2 trial of MT-401, as well as clinical trials conducted by our collaborators; the timing and success of the technology transfer process related to our planned manufacturing facility and the receipt of regulatory approval for the related cGMP; our manufacturing processes and our ability to use our current and planned manufacturing facilities to support clinical and commercial demand. Forward-looking statements are by their nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and other SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Such risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business and the global economy. The Company assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

 

Marker Therapeutics, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$  64,507,575		$  21,352,382
Prepaid expenses and deposits	1,962,924		2,057,924
Other receivables	1,000,867		1,000,559
Total current assets	67,471,366		24,410,865
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,298,225		3,570,736
Construction in progress	-		6,789,098
Right-of-use assets, net	10,592,490		10,844,116
Total non-current assets	20,890,715		21,203,950
Total assets	$  88,362,081		$  45,614,815
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$    3,674,259		$    6,013,010
Lease liability	473,077		388,792
Total current liabilities	4,147,336		6,401,802
Non-current liabilities:
Lease liability, net of current portion	11,719,826		11,868,440
Total non-current liabilities	11,719,826		11,868,440
Total liabilities	15,867,162		18,270,242
Commitments and contingencies	-		-
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - $0.001 par value, 5 million shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively	-		-
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 150 million shares authorized, 83.0 million and 50.7 million shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively	83,014		50,731
Additional paid-in capital	437,430,839		383,533,326
Accumulated deficit	(365,018,934)		(356,239,484)
Total stockholders' equity	72,494,919		27,344,573
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$  88,362,081		$  45,614,815

 

Marker Therapeutics, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021		2020
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$  5,643,029		$  3,816,618
General and administrative	3,137,958		2,826,995
Total operating expenses	8,780,987		6,643,613
Loss from operations	(8,780,987)		(6,643,613)
Other income (expense):
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities	-		31,000
Interest income	1,537		126,969
Net loss	$(8,779,450)		$(6,485,644)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$         (0.16)		$         (0.14)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted	56,470,247		46,084,383

 

Marker Therapeutics, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021		2020
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss	$ (8,779,450)		$ (6,485,644)
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	502,743		35,265
Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities	-		(31,000)
Stock-based compensation	1,377,038		1,344,592
Amortization on right-of-use assets	251,626		47,361
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and deposits	95,000		(189,650)
Other receivables	(308)		31,584
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(2,442,581)		1,197,613
Lease liability	(64,329)		(49,187)
Net cash used in operating activities	(9,060,261)		(4,099,066)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(441,134)		(99,821)
Net cash used in investing activities	(441,134)		(99,821)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	52,656,588		-
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	-		550,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	52,656,588		550,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash	43,155,193		(3,648,887)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	21,352,382		43,903,949
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$ 64,507,575		$ 40,255,062
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	$                 -		$                 -
Cash paid for taxes	$                 -		$                 -

 

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SOURCE Marker Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What are Marker Therapeutics' Q1 2021 financial results?

Marker reported a net loss of $8.8 million for Q1 2021, compared to a loss of $6.5 million in Q1 2020.

What is the cash position of Marker Therapeutics as of March 31, 2021?

Marker Therapeutics had cash and cash equivalents of $64.5 million at the end of Q1 2021.

When will Marker Therapeutics initiate the main portion of its Phase 2 trial for AML?

The company plans to initiate the main portion of the Phase 2 AML trial in Q3 2021.

How much did Marker Therapeutics raise in its recent public offering?

Marker Therapeutics raised approximately $56.5 million from its recent public offering.

What is the anticipated timeline for the new cGMP facility's operations?

The new cGMP facility is expected to be fully operational in the first half of 2021.