Marker Therapeutics Reports Fiscal Year 2020 Operating and Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Marker Therapeutics (MRKR) provided a corporate update and financial results for FY 2020, reporting a net loss of $28.7 million, up from $21.4 million in 2019. They launched a Phase 2 trial for AML, dosing their first patient in March 2021, and activated seven clinical sites, expecting up to 20 total. Their new cGMP manufacturing facility in Houston, designed for scalability, will support AML trials and future commercialization. Marker has $21.4 million in cash, funding operations into Q1 2022, but R&D expenses rose to $18.9 million.

Positive

• First patient dosed in Phase 2 AML trial.
• New cGMP manufacturing facility constructed to FDA standards.
• 50% reduction in manufacturing time for MT-401.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $28.7 million in FY 2020.
• R&D expenses rose significantly to $18.9 million.

HOUSTON, March 9, 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 fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.  

"We are proud of our Company's continued progress, which has positioned us for a busy and productive year ahead," said Peter L. Hoang, President & CEO of Marker Therapeutics. "Recently, we dosed the first patient in the safety lead-in portion of our Phase 2 trial in post-transplant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the fourth quarter, we completed construction of a new in-house cGMP manufacturing facility in Houston, which we anticipate will be fully operational in the first half of this year. We also 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, superior T cell phenotype and antigen specificity, and the potential for improved patient outcomes."

RECENT PROGRAM UPDATES

MT-401: Multi-Antigen Targeted (MultiTAA)-Specific T Cell Product Candidate for AML

Phase 2 AML Trial

• In March 2021, Marker dosed the first patient in the safety lead-in portion of its Phase 2 trial in AML. The safety lead-in 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 MT-401 manufactured with a new reagent from an alternate supplier.
• To date, Marker has activated seven clinical sites and is in the start-up phase with additional clinical 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.

Manufacturing and Process Improvements

• Marker continues to streamline and simplify the MT-401 manufacturing process. The technical improvements include a 50% reduction in manufacturing time, a 90%+ reduction in the number of required operator interventions, and significant improvement in the consistency and reproducibility of the manufacturing process, while yielding a significant increase in the number of T cells available for patient administration. The Company believes the new process could yield a measurably improved product, with superior T cell phenotype and 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.

BUSINESS UPDATES

• The Company completed the construction and qualification of its cGMP manufacturing facility in Houston, TX, located near the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The facility will allow production of MultiTAA-specific T cell products according to U.S. FDA guidelines and is designed to be scalable using modular processes. The facility will be used to support the manufacture of 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. The Company has initiated the technology transfer process and expects the facility to be fully operational in the first half of 2021.  

FISCAL YEAR 2020 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Cash Position and Guidance: At December 31, 2020, Marker had cash and cash equivalents of $21.4 million. The Company raised $6.2 million through the previously executed $30 million common stock purchase agreement with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC. The remaining $23.8 million available to Marker from Aspire Capital, along with current cash available, funds operations into Q1 2022.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $18.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $12.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $10.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Net Loss: Marker reported a net loss of $28.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to a net loss of $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.  

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 Statement Disclaimer
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.

Consolidated Balance Sheets
	December 31,		December 31,
	2020		2019
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$           21,352,382		$        43,903,949
Prepaid expenses and deposits	2,057,924		1,526,442
Interest receivable	559		56,189
Other receivable	1,000,000		-
Total current assets	24,410,865		45,486,580
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,570,736		417,528
Construction in progress	6,789,098		-
Right-of-use assets, net	10,844,116		455,174
Total non-current assets	21,203,950		872,702
Total assets	$           45,614,815		$        46,359,282
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$             6,013,010		$          1,757,680
Lease liability	388,792		204,132
Warrant liability	-		31,000
Total current liabilities	6,401,802		1,992,812
Non-current liabilities:
Lease liability, net of current portion	11,868,440		280,247
Total non-current liabilities	11,868,440		280,247
Total liabilities	18,270,242		2,273,059
Commitments and contingencies	-		-
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - $0.001 par value, 5 million shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively	-		-
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 150 million shares authorized, 50.7 million and 45.7 million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively	50,731		45,728
Additional paid-in capital	383,533,326		371,573,909
Accumulated deficit	(356,239,484)		(327,533,414)
Total stockholders' equity	27,344,573		44,086,223
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$           45,614,815		$        46,359,282

 

Marker Therapeutics, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations
		For the Years Ended
		December 31,
		2020		2019
Revenues:
Grant income		$                  466,785		$                  213,194
Total revenues		466,785		213,194
Operating expenses:
Research and development		18,880,751		12,764,804
General and administrative		10,471,846		9,977,196
Total operating expenses		29,352,597		22,742,000
Loss from operations		(28,885,812)		(22,528,806)
Other income (expense):
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		31,000		18,000
Interest income		148,742		1,082,842
Net loss		$           (28,706,070)		$           (21,427,964)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$                      (0.61)		$                      (0.47)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		47,039,862		45,587,734

 

Marker Therapeutics, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
	For the Years Ended
	December 31,
	2020		2019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss	$           (28,706,070)		$        (21,427,964)
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	485,641		105,123
Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities	(31,000)		(18,000)
Stock-based compensation	5,228,409		5,356,972
Amortization on right-of-use assets	590,039		181,459
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and deposits	(531,482)		(1,384,725)
Interest receivable	55,630		51,988
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	4,222,470		(963,967)
Lease liability	(173,268)		(185,179)
Net cash used in operating activities	(18,859,631)		(18,284,293)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(3,638,849)		(374,983)
Purchase of construction in progress	(6,789,098)		-
Net cash used in investing activities	(10,427,947)		(374,983)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	6,186,011		-
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	-		57,744
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	550,000		758,733
Net cash provided by financing activities	6,736,011		816,477
Net decrease in cash	(22,551,567)		(17,842,799)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	43,903,949		61,746,748
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$             21,352,382		$          43,903,949

 

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SOURCE Marker Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What were Marker Therapeutics' financial results for FY 2020?

Marker reported a net loss of $28.7 million and R&D expenses of $18.9 million for FY 2020.

What is the status of the Phase 2 trial for AML by Marker Therapeutics?

Marker has dosed the first patient in the safety lead-in portion of its Phase 2 trial for AML as of March 2021.

How much cash does Marker Therapeutics have available?

As of December 31, 2020, Marker had cash and equivalents of $21.4 million, funding operations into Q1 2022.

What improvements have been made to the MT-401 manufacturing process?

The new manufacturing process offers a 50% reduction in time and a 90%+ reduction in operator interventions.