SQZ Biotechnologies Announces Acceptance by Roche Accelerator in China

Rhea-AI Summary

SQZ Biotechnologies has joined the Roche Accelerator, which aims to enhance its strategic planning and market entry in China. This partnership underscores the company's ongoing collaboration with Roche, established in 2015, particularly in oncology programs. Armon Sharei, CEO of SQZ, highlighted the opportunity to address significant patient needs in China with their SQZ™ cell therapies. The collaboration aims to facilitate the exploration of local applications for their innovative cell therapy approach.

Positive

• Acceptance into Roche Accelerator to enhance strategic planning for China market.
• Long-standing collaboration with Roche since 2015, focusing on oncology.

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• None.

Roche Accelerator Membership to Support Company’s Early Strategic Planning and Market Exploration in China

WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SQZ Biotechnologies Company (NYSE: SQZ), a cell therapy company developing novel treatments for multiple therapeutic areas, today announced that its China Initiative has been accepted by the Roche Accelerator. Launched earlier this year, the accelerator is Roche’s first in-house accelerator globally and further establishes its long-term commitment to Shanghai and China. China’s healthcare ecosystem is of growing global importance and provides significant opportunity for patient impact. Collaboration with the Roche Accelerator will support early strategic planning and potential China-based activities for the SQZ China Initiative.

“We are excited to be one of the first members of the Roche Accelerator and to begin working with its talented experts to support strategic planning for this important global healthcare center,” said Armon Sharei, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SQZ Biotechnologies and echoed by Min Dong, Ph.D., Head of the SQZ China Initiative. “China has significant patient needs across the disease areas where we are developing SQZ™ cell therapies. We look forward to working with local stakeholders to explore the potential application of our cell therapy approach in China.”

Roche has been a strategic partner with the company since 2015 and has an ongoing collaboration with SQZ on the SQZ™ APC oncology program globally.

About SQZ Biotechnologies

SQZ Biotechnologies Company is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on unlocking the full potential of cell therapies for patients around the world and has active programs in Oncology, Autoimmune and Infectious Diseases, as well as additional exploratory initiatives to support future pipeline growth. The company’s proprietary Cell Squeeze® technology offers the unique ability to deliver multiple biological materials into many cell types to engineer what we believe can be a broad range of potential therapeutics. With demonstrated production timelines under 24 hours and the opportunity to eliminate preconditioning and lengthy hospital stays, our approach could significantly broaden the therapeutic range and accessibility of cell therapies. The company’s first therapeutic applications seek to generate target-specific immune responses, both in activation for the treatment of solid tumors and infectious diseases, and in immune tolerance for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit www.sqzbiotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements relating to events and presentations, our platform development, product candidates, preclinical and clinical activities, progress and outcomes, development plans, geographic expansion, clinical safety and efficacy, therapeutic impact, and market opportunities. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to several risk factors. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties related to our limited operating history; our significant losses incurred since inception and expectation to incur significant additional losses for the foreseeable future; the development of our initial product candidates, upon which our business is highly dependent; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and clinical activities; our need for additional funding and our cash runway; the lengthy, expensive, and uncertain process of clinical drug development, including uncertain outcomes of clinical trials and potential delays in regulatory approval; our ability to maintain our relationships with our third party vendors and strategic partners; and protection of our proprietary technology, intellectual property portfolio and the confidentiality of our trade secrets. These and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021 and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of this date and SQZ undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, the occurrence of current events, or otherwise, unless required by law.

Certain information contained in this press release relates to or is based on studies, publications, surveys and other data obtained from third-party sources and our own internal estimates and research. While we believe these third-party sources to be reliable as of the date of this press release, we have not independently verified, and we make no representation as to the adequacy, fairness, accuracy or completeness of any information obtained from third-party sources.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211201005587/en/

Investor Relations:

investors@sqzbiotech.com

Media Contact:

John Lacey

Corporate Communications

john.lacey@sqzbiotech.com

781-392-5514

Source: SQZ Biotechnologies Company

FAQ

What is the significance of SQZ Biotechnologies joining the Roche Accelerator?

Joining the Roche Accelerator will support SQZ Biotechnologies in strategic planning and market exploration in China, enhancing their operational capabilities.

How does the Roche Accelerator benefit SQZ Biotechnologies?

The Roche Accelerator will provide resources and expert guidance to SQZ Biotechnologies, aiding in the development and potential application of their cell therapies in China.

What are the main areas of focus for SQZ Biotechnologies in China?

SQZ Biotechnologies is focusing on developing cell therapies to meet significant patient needs in various disease areas in China.

When was the collaboration between SQZ Biotechnologies and Roche established?

The collaboration between SQZ Biotechnologies and Roche was established in 2015.