Adaptimmune to Provide Update on Study of NY-ESO SPEAR® T-cell Therapy in Synovial Sarcoma at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Congress

PHILADELPHIA and OXFORD, United Kingdom, Oct. 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq:ADAP), a leader in T-cell therapy to treat cancer, announced that it will present a poster presentation of updated data on its lead clinical program, an NY-ESO SPEAR® (Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor) T-cell therapy, in patients with synovial sarcoma at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Congress. This meeting will take place at the Bella Center exhibition center in Copenhagen, Denmark on October 7 through 11, 2016.

Sunday, October 9, 2016
Poster Presentation
Abstract number: 1075P
Title: “Open Label Non-Randomized Multi-Cohort Pilot Study of Genetically Engineered NY-ESO-1 Specific NY-ESO SPEAR T-cells in HLA-A*02+ Patients with Synovial Sarcoma”
Presentation Time: 13:00-14:00
Location: Hall E

The following synovial sarcoma cohorts will be reviewed in this poster presentation:

• Cohort 1: Subjects with high NY-ESO-1 antigen expression and lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine;
• Cohort 2: Subjects with low  NY-ESO-1 antigen expression and lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine;
• Cohort 3: Subjects with high NY-ESO-1 antigen expression and lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide alone (no fludarabine);
• Cohort 4: Subjects with high NY-ESO-1 antigen expression and lymphodepletion with a modified (lower) dose than Cohort 1 of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine.

These data follow presentations at the 2016 Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting, where we reported robust clinical responses in solid and hematologic tumors; durable persistence without the requirement for IL-2 support in vivo with cells detectable for up to three years; data showing that the incidence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) appeared to be of lower frequency and severity compared to that reported with CD19 CAR-T therapy; and that our NY-ESO SPEAR T-cells have been generally well tolerated with common side effects including diarrhea, pyrexia, and fatigue. One fatal SAE of bone marrow failure was reported at ASCO in cohort 2 of our synovial sarcoma trial. Internal investigations have not identified a mechanism by which NY-ESO SPEAR T-cells may have caused bone marrow failure.

At ESMO, the company will provide additional tolerability data of our NY-ESO SPEAR T-cells in patients with synovial sarcoma and an update on the benefit:risk profile in patients treated to date.

Adaptimmune’s SPEAR T-cell candidates are novel cancer immunotherapies that have been engineered to target and destroy cancer cells by strengthening a patient’s natural T-cell response. T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play a central role in a person’s immune response. Adaptimmune’s goal is to harness the power of the T-cell and, through its multiple therapeutic candidate, significantly impact cancer treatment and clinical outcomes of patients with solid and hematologic cancers.

About Adaptimmune
Adaptimmune is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel cancer immunotherapy products based on its SPEAR® (Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor) T-cell platform. Established in 2008, the company aims to utilize the body’s own machinery - the T-cell - to target and destroy cancer cells by using engineered, increased affinity TCRs as a means of strengthening natural patient T-cell responses. Adaptimmune’s lead program is a SPEAR T-cell therapy targeting the NY-ESO cancer antigen. Its NY-ESO SPEAR T-cell therapy has demonstrated signs of efficacy and tolerability in Phase 1/2 trials in solid tumors and in hematologic cancer types, including synovial sarcoma and multiple myeloma. Adaptimmune has a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for the development and commercialization of the NY-ESO TCR program. In addition, Adaptimmune has a number of proprietary programs. These include SPEAR T-cell therapies targeting the MAGE-A10 and AFP cancer antigens, which both have open INDs, and a further SPEAR T-cell therapy targeting the MAGE-A4 cancer antigen that is in pre-clinical phase with IND acceptance targeted for 2017. The company has identified over 30 intracellular target peptides preferentially expressed in cancer cells and is currently progressing 12 through unpartnered research programs. Adaptimmune has over 250 employees and is located in Oxfordshire, U.K. and Philadelphia, USA. For more information: http://www.adaptimmune.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, and include, without limitation: the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials and our ability to successfully advance our TCR therapeutic candidates through the regulatory and commercialization processes. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to our business in general, we refer you to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 8, 2016, and our other SEC filings. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made and we do not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Adaptimmune Contacts

Investor Relations
Will Roberts
T:  (215) 825-9306
E: will.roberts@adaptimmune.com

Juli Miller, Ph.D.
T: (215) 825-9310
E: juli.miller@adaptimmune.com

Media Relations
Margaret Henry
T: +44 (0)1235 430036
Mobile: +44 (0)7710 304249
E: margaret.henry@adaptimmune.com

Released October 5, 2016