SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ATRA, Financial), a leading off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company developing novel treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases, today announced that the Company and its collaborating investigators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) will present long-term clinical outcomes for patients with Epstein-Barr virus associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ PTLD) who failed first line treatment and were subsequently treated with tab-cel™ (tabelecleucel) in Phase 2 studies. The poster will be featured during the upcoming 23rd Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), which will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, June 14-17, 2018.
“Long-term outcomes including survival, durability of treatment responses and safety continue to highlight the potential compelling benefit of tab-cel™ for patients with EBV-associated lymphomas,” said Dietmar Berger, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of Research and Development of Atara Biotherapeutics. “Under the current standard of care, EBV+ PTLD is an aggressive cancer that often rapidly progresses to death after diagnosis. We remain focused on advancing our late-stage clinical development and working closely with global health authorities to bring tab‑cel™ to patients with this life-threatening disease as expeditiously as possible.”
Results to be presented at the EHA meeting demonstrate the median survival for tab-cel™ treated patients with EBV+ PTLD following hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) who failed rituximab was not reached after 23.3 months of follow-up. The expected median survival for patients with EBV+ PTLD following HCT who have failed rituximab first line therapy is 16-56 days.1,2
The median survival for tab-cel™ treated patients with EBV+ PTLD following SOT who failed rituximab was 21.3 months, which compares favorably to the expected 12 to 13-month median survival in patients with EBV+ PTLD following solid organ transplant (SOT) who fail to achieve a complete response to first-line therapy with single-agent rituximab.3 One-year overall survival for patients with EBV+ PTLD following HCT and SOT who failed rituximab was 68 and 64 percent, respectively. Tab‑cel™ was generally well-tolerated with low incidence of treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs), consistent with previous studies.
Based on the findings from the Phase 2 studies, two Phase 3 clinical studies are underway (MATCH and ALLELE) to evaluate tab-cel™ in patients with EBV+ PTLD who have failed rituximab following HCT or SOT. Results from the first tab-cel™ Phase 3 study and submission of an EU conditional marketing authorization application are expected in the first half of 2019.
The abstract is available in the program section of the EHA Annual Congress website and details for the poster presentation are as follows:
Abstract PF401: Long Term Outcomes of Tabelecleucel (Allogeneic Third-Party EBV-Targeted Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes) for Rituximab-Refractory Post-Transplant EBV+ Lymphomas: A Single Center Experience
Session Title: Gene therapy, cellular immunotherapy and vaccination - Clinical
Presentation Date & Time: Friday, June 15; 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CEST
Authors: Susan Prockop, Ekaterina Doubrovina, Amy Feng, Guenther Koehne, Parastoo Dahi, Esperanza Papadopoulos, Craig Sauter, Stephanie Suser, Willis Navarro, Akshay Sudhindra, Richard O'Reilly
Location: Poster area, Älvsjö building, Stockholm International Fairs and Congress Centre (Stockholmsmässan)
About EBV+ PTLD
Since its discovery as the first human oncovirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the development of a wide range of lymphoproliferative disorders, including lymphomas, and other cancers. EBV is widespread in all human populations and persists as a lifelong, asymptomatic infection. In immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) or solid organ transplants (SOT), EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ PTLD), represents a life-threatening condition. Median overall survival in patients with EBV+ PTLD following HCT who have failed rituximab-based first line therapy is 16-56 days. In EBV+ PTLD following SOT, patients failing rituximab experience increased chemotherapy-induced treatment-related mortality compared to other lymphoma patients. One- and two-year survival in patients with high-risk EBV+ PTLD following SOT is 36% and 0%, respectively.
About tab-cel™ (tabelecleucel; formerly known as ATA129)
Atara's most advanced T-cell immunotherapy in development, tab-cel™, is a potential treatment for patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ PTLD) who have failed rituximab, as well as other EBV-associated hematologic and solid tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In February 2015, FDA granted tab-cel™ Breakthrough Therapy Designation for EBV+ PTLD following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), and in October 2016, tab-cel™ was accepted into the EMA Priority Medicines (PRIME) regulatory pathway for the same indication, providing enhanced regulatory support. Atara also received positive regulatory feedback from Health Canada in September 2017 supporting the submission of tab-cel™ for an expedited approval pathway. In addition, tab-cel™ has orphan status in the U.S. and EU. Tab-cel™ is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of EBV+ PTLD following an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (MATCH study) or solid organ transplant (ALLELE study), and Atara is planning a Phase 1/2 study in NPC. Tab-cel™ is also available to eligible patients with EBV-associated hematologic and solid tumors through an ongoing multicenter expanded access protocol clinical study, positive interim results of which were presented in December 2017 at the 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.
About Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (@Atarabio) is a leading T-cell immunotherapy company developing novel treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases. The Company's off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cells are bioengineered from donors with healthy immune function and allow for rapid delivery from inventory to patients without a requirement for pretreatment. Atara's T-cell immunotherapies are designed to precisely recognize and eliminate cancerous or diseased cells without affecting normal, healthy cells. Atara's most advanced T-cell immunotherapy in development, tabelecleucel, or tab-cel™ (formerly known as ATA129), is being developed for the treatment of patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ PTLD) who have failed rituximab, as well as other EBV-associated hematologic and solid tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Tab-cel™ is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of EBV+ PTLD following an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (MATCH study) or solid organ transplant (ALLELE study). Atara is also developing off-the-shelf, allogenic ATA188 and autologous ATA190 T-cell immunotherapies using a complementary targeted antigen recognition technology for specific EBV antigens believed to be important for the potential treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). A Phase 1 clinical study of autologous ATA190 in patients with progressive MS is ongoing. Atara also initiated a multinational Phase 1 ATA188 clinical study in patients with progressive or relapsing-remitting MS in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2017 and in the U.S. in March 2018. Atara's clinical pipeline also includes ATA520 targeting Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) and ATA230 directed against cytomegalovirus (CMV).
References
1Atara estimated 1-year survival based on analysis of Ocheni S, et al. EBV reactivation and post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders following allogeneic SCT. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 2008 Aug;42(3):181-6.
2Fox CP, et al. EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder following in vivo T-cell-depleted allogeneic transplantation: Clinical features, viral load correlates and prognostic factors in the rituximab era. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2014;49(2):280-6.
3Choquet S, et al. Rituximab in the management of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder after solid organ transplantation: proceed with caution. Ann Hematol. 2007 Aug;86(8):599-607.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains or may imply "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For example, forward-looking statements include statements regarding: the Company's enrollment, expansion, expected results and completion of its Phase 3 studies of tab-cel™; the timing of the Company’s submission of a CMA for tab-cel™ in the EU; the Company’s ability to leverage its platform in other indications and initiate development of additional immunotherapies; and the potential advantages of its product candidates. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Atara Biotherapeutics' current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Atara Biotherapeutics could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Atara Biotherapeutics' quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 8, 2018, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, and subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, Atara Biotherapeutics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
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