TScan Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Company Progress

Rhea-AI Summary

TScan Therapeutics (TCRX) reported third-quarter 2021 financial results, highlighting progress in its TCR-T therapy pipeline. The company expects to file IND applications for lead liquid tumor therapies TSC-100 and TSC-101 by year-end. The newly launched TSC-204 solid tumor program targets MAGE-A1 and aims for IND submission in 2022. Financially, TScan recorded a net loss of $15.8 million, with cash reserves of $182.3 million projected to sustain operations into 2024. R&D expenses rose to $14.2 million from $5.8 million year-over-year.

Positive

• IND applications for TSC-100 and TSC-101 expected by year-end 2021.
• New TSC-204 solid tumor program launched targeting MAGE-A1.
• Cash reserves of $182.3 million sufficient to fund operations into 2024.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $15.8 million in Q3 2021 from $7.2 million in Q3 2020.
• R&D expenses surged to $14.2 million, indicating higher operational costs.

IND Submissions Expected in Fourth Quarter 2021 for Lead Liquid Tumor TCR-T Therapy Candidates TSC-100 and TSC-101

Lead TCR Identified for TSC-200 Solid Tumor Program Targeting HPV16; TCR Advancing into IND-Enabling Activities with IND Submission Planned for Second Half of 2022

New Solid Tumor Program, TSC-204, Established Based on a TCR Targeting an HLA-C*07:02 Epitope of MAGE-A1

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TScan Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cell (TCR-T) therapies for the treatment of patients with cancer, today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, highlighted recent program progress, and outlined key upcoming expected milestones.

“Throughout the third quarter of 2021, we’ve continued to execute on our long-term goals of advancing transformational TCR-T therapy candidates and expect to file IND applications for our lead liquid tumor candidates TSC-100 and TSC-101 by the end of the year,” said David Southwell, President and Chief Executive Officer of TScan Therapeutics. “We look forward to sharing additional details of our liquid tumor program at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition. We also made significant progress across our solid tumor pipeline, particularly the advancement of TSC-200 into IND-enabling studies and the launch of a new TCR program based on the discovery of a novel epitope on the validated solid tumor target MAGE-A1.”

Third Quarter 2021 and Recent Business Highlights

• TScan recently announced that two abstracts related to lead liquid tumor TCR-T therapy candidates TSC-100 and TSC-101 have been accepted for poster presentations at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition being held from December 11-14, 2021.
   
• During the third quarter, TScan advanced a lead TCR-T therapy candidate for its TSC-200 program for HPV16 into investigational new drug (IND)-enabling activities and plans to submit an IND for this program in the second half of 2022. HPV is a validated cancer target found in HPV-positive tumors, including many cases of head & neck and cervical cancers. Using its proprietary ReceptorScan and TargetScan platforms, TScan screened over half a billion T cells from a variety of human donors to identify a naturally occurring, ultra-high affinity TCR that recognizes an HLA-A*02:01-restricted epitope derived from the E7 protein of HPV16. Previously, clinical data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile for an HPV TCR. TScan intends to build on the positive NCI results by developing an enhanced autologous TCR-T therapy using its T-Integrate cell manufacturing platform and by multiplexing its HPV TCR with additional TCRs in its TSC-2xx series of cell therapy candidates. TScan has used the large cargo capacity of T-Integrate to include in the TSC-200 construct features that enable engineering of both cytotoxic and helper T cells and features designed to help confer resistance to the immunosuppressive micro-environment of solid tumors.
   
• TScan has recently discovered a novel HLA-C*07:02-restricted epitope encoded by the well-known cancer/testis gene MAGE-A1, using its TargetScan platform. This cancer-specific gene is frequently overexpressed in a wide variety of solid tumors. In the U.S., the target is expressed in as many as 45% of head & neck cancer patients, 50% of melanoma patients, 50% of cervical cancer patients and 50% of non-small cell lung cancer patients. The TCR that recognizes this novel epitope was isolated from a patient with head & neck cancer who exhibited an exceptional response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. TScan has launched a new program, TSC-204, that will include multiple TCRs for different HLA-restricted epitopes on this same protein. TScan believes that it is the only company with a disclosed TCR program in MAGE-A1 for HLA types other than A*02:01. The Company has now advanced TSC-204 into lead TCR-T therapy candidate optimization.
   
• The Company expanded its management team with the appointments of Zoran Zdraveski, J.D., Ph.D., as Chief Legal Officer, and Heather Savelle as Vice President, Investor Relations.
   
• In July 2021, TScan completed its initial public offering (IPO), raising $100 million in aggregate gross proceeds, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, and began trading on The Nasdaq Global Market. The IPO followed the closing of a Series C preferred stock financing of $100 million in gross proceeds in January 2021.
   
• In July 2021, Gavin MacBeath, Ph.D., TScan’s Chief Scientific Officer, presented findings from TScan’s work to discover the targets of T cells in recovering COVID-19 patients at the Cell-Mediated Therapies for Infectious Disease Summit. The presentation also featured in vitro data comparing several polyepitope T cell vaccine candidates based on the Company’s novel T cell target discoveries. TScan is now advancing these T cell-eliciting vaccine candidates through pre-clinical development with the goal of engineering a COVID-19 vaccine that generates long-term immunity with less susceptibility to resistance from emerging variants. In addition to addressing the current pandemic, this program represents proof-of-concept for a novel class of vaccines that are designed to elicit a long-lasting T cell response to infectious pathogens.

Upcoming Expected Milestones and Key Priorities

Liquid Tumor Programs: TScan’s two lead liquid tumor TCR-T therapy candidates, TSC-100 and TSC-101, are designed to target HA-1 and HA-2, respectively, and treat patients with hematological malignancies who are undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

• TScan will present two posters related to TSC-100 and TSC-101 at the upcoming ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.
   
• IND-enabling studies and the submission of IND applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are planned for TSC-100 and TSC-101 during the fourth quarter 2021.
   
• Following the IND submissions and pending acceptance by the FDA, clinical trials for TSC-100 and TSC-101 are expected to begin in the first half of 2022 with preliminary data expected in the second half of 2022.

Solid Tumor Programs: TScan’s TSC-200 series of TCR-T therapy candidates include a combination of known targets, such as HPV16 for TSC-200, PRAME for TSC-203, and MAGE-A1 for TSC-204, as well as targets that are novel antigens for TCR-T therapy, such as those for TSC-201 and TSC-202.

• TScan plans to present preclinical data of the TSC-2xx series during the first half of 2022.
   
• TScan plans to progress IND-enabling studies for the TSC-2xx series and submit IND applications during the second half of 2022, including for TSC-200 for HPV, during the second half of 2022. Further INDs are planned for 2023.

Infectious Disease Program

·Research is continuing into potential T cell-focused COVID-19 vaccine constructs utilizing TScan’s novel T cell target discoveries.

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $182.3 million, excluding restricted cash of $0.6 million. Based on the Company’s current operating plan, TScan expects that cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021, will enable it to fund its operating expenses into 2024.

Research and development expenses for the third quarter 2021 were $14.2 million, compared to $5.8 million for the third quarter 2020.

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter 2021 were $4.0 million, compared to $1.6 million for the third quarter 2020.

Net loss for the third quarter 2021 was $15.8 million or $0.80 per common share, compared to a net loss of $7.2 million or $7.16 per common share for the third quarter 2020. Net loss per share was calculated using 19.9 million weighted average common shares and 1.0 million weighted average common shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

On July 20, 2021, the Company issued 6,666,667 shares of common stock in its IPO, raising gross proceeds of $100 million. In addition, upon closing of the IPO, all of the Company’s outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converted into 15,616,272 shares of common stock (of which 5,143,134 shares are non-voting common stock). This brings the total shares outstanding as of November 5, 2021, to 23,768,036, which consists of 18,624,902 shares of voting common stock and 5,143,134 shares of non-voting common stock.

TScan’s latest presentation is available on the “Events and Presentations” section of the Company’s website, and can be accessed here. 

About TScan Therapeutics, Inc.

TScan is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of T cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cell (TCR-T) therapies for the treatment of patients with cancer. The Company’s lead liquid tumor TCR-T therapy candidates, TSC-100 and TSC-101, are in development for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies to eliminate residual leukemia and prevent relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The Company is also developing multiplexed TCR-T therapy candidates for the treatment of various solid tumors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding possible or assumed future results of operations of TScan Therapeutics, Inc., expenses and financing needs, business strategies and plans, research and development plans or expectations, the structure, timing and success of the Company’s planned preclinical development and clinical trials, expected milestones, market sizing, competitive position, regulatory matters, industry environment and potential growth opportunities, among other things. TScan intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as, but not limited to, “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “target,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan,” “on track,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in TScan’s forward-looking statements include, among others, the beneficial characteristics, safety, efficacy, therapeutic effects and potential advantages of TScan’s TCR-T therapy candidates; TScan’s expectations regarding its preclinical studies being predictive of clinical trial results; the timing of the initiation, progress and expected results of TScan’s preclinical studies, clinical trials and its research and development programs; TScan’s plans relating to developing and commercializing its TCR-T therapy candidates, if approved, including sales strategy; estimates of the size of the addressable market for TScan’s TCR-T therapy candidates; TScan’s manufacturing capabilities and the scalable nature of its manufacturing process; TScan’s estimates regarding expenses, future milestone payments and revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; TScan’s expectations regarding competition; TScan’s anticipated growth strategies; TScan’s ability to attract or retain key personnel; TScan’s ability to establish and maintain development partnerships and collaborations; TScan’s expectations regarding federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements; TScan’s ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its proprietary platform technology and our product candidates; the sufficiency of TScan’s existing capital resources to fund its future operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including mitigation efforts and political, economic, legal and social effects, on any of the foregoing or other aspects of TScan’s business or operations; and other factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of TScan’s Final Prospectus for its initial public offering and TScan’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/. Additional factors may be described in those sections of TScan’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, expected to be filed with the SEC in the fourth quarter of 2021.

In addition to the risks described above and in TScan’s other filings with the SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect TScan’s results. No forward-looking statements can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from such statements. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and TScan undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

TScan Therapeutics, Inc.
Heather Savelle
VP, Investor Relations
857-399-9840
hsavelle@tscan.com

Media Contact:
David Rosen
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
david.rosen@argotpartners.com

Investor Contact:
Sherri Spear
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
sherri@argotpartners.com

TScan Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share amount)
		September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	182,312			$	34,791
Other assets			22,577				14,947
Total assets		$	204,889			$	49,738
Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Deficit
Total liabilities		$	30,815			$	32,519
Convertible preferred stock			-				59,681
Total stockholders' deficit			174,074				(42,462	)
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders' deficit		$	204,889			$	49,738
Common stock outstanding as of November 5, 2021			23,768,036

TScan Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenue
Collaboration and license revenue		$	2,412			$	290			$	7,287			$	290
Operating expenses:
Research and development			14,206				5,813				32,346			$	14,613
General and administrative			4,048				1,648				9,380			$	4,100
Total operating expenses			18,254				7,461				41,726				18,713
Loss from operations			(15,842	)			(7,171	)			(34,439	)			(18,423	)
Other income			3				1				14				103
Net loss		$	(15,839	)		$	(7,170	)		$	(34,425	)		$	(18,320	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(0.80	)		$	(7.16	)		$	(4.55	)		$	(20.44	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted			19,875,428				1,001,853				7,562,436				896,100

FAQ

What are the upcoming milestones for TScan Therapeutics in 2021 and 2022?

TScan expects to file IND applications for TSC-100 and TSC-101 by the end of 2021 and plans to submit IND for TSC-200 in the second half of 2022.

What were TScan's financial results for Q3 2021?

TScan reported a net loss of $15.8 million for Q3 2021, with cash reserves of $182.3 million.

What is the focus of TScan's TSC-204 program?

The TSC-204 program targets the MAGE-A1 epitope for treating solid tumors.

How much cash does TScan have for future operations?

As of September 30, 2021, TScan had cash and equivalents totaling $182.3 million.

Has TScan's share count changed after its IPO?

Yes, TScan issued 6,666,667 shares in its IPO, bringing total shares outstanding to 23,768,036.