Adaptimmune Presents Preclinical Data for its Next Generation SPEAR T-cell Targeting MAGE-A4 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting

- Preclinical data show that next generation SPEAR T-cells may improve long term T-cell functions as well as antitumor activity -

PHILADELPHIA and OXFORD, United Kingdom, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq:ADAP), a leader in T-cell therapy to treat cancer, presented promising preclinical data at the annual AACR meeting from its next generation SPEAR T-cell targeting MAGE-A4. This next generation SPEAR T-cell, known as ADP-A2M4CD8, expresses the CD8α co-receptor alongside the engineered TCR that targets MAGE-A4.

Co-expression of CD8α is anticipated to broaden the immune response against solid tumors and increase antitumor activity by converting CD4⁺ helper cells into CD8⁺ killer or cytotoxic T-cells. The preclinical data demonstrate that the addition of CD8a with the engineered TCR in vitro improved engagement and function in CD4⁺ T-cells that may support clonal expansion of CD8⁺ T-cells, differentiation into effector and memory T-cells, as well as engage the wider immune system in antitumor responses.

“Our next generation programs are designed to enhance our existing SPEAR T-cells, to improve their ability to target and kill solid tumors. The preclinical data we presented at AACR indicate that adding CD8a to our ADP-A2M4 candidate may help broaden the antitumor immune response against additional tumor antigens. Further, the CD8a co-receptor may enhance the ability of CD4⁺ SPEAR T-cells to kill cancer cells through the engineered TCR targeting MAGE-A4,” said Rafael Amado, Adaptimmune’s President of Research & Development.

Poster presentation details:

• Title:  Enhanced activity of second-generation MAGE-A4 SPEAR T-cells through co-expression of a CD8α homodimer
• Session Title:  Adoptive Cell Therapy 2
• Session Date and Time:   Monday Apr 1, 2019 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET
• Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Exhibit Hall B, Poster Section 22
• Poster Board Number:  12
• Abstract Number: 2313

About Adaptimmune
Adaptimmune is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel cancer immunotherapy products. The Company’s unique SPEAR (Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor) T‑cell platform enables the engineering of T-cells to target and destroy cancer, including solid tumors. Adaptimmune is currently conducting clinical trials with SPEAR T-cells targeting MAGE-A4, MAGE-A10, and AFP across multiple solid tumor indications. The Company is located in Philadelphia, USA and Oxfordshire and Stevenage, UK. For more information, please visit 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 27, 2019, 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:

Media Relations:
Sébastien Desprez – VP, Communications and Investor Relations
T: +44 1235 430 583
M: +44 7718 453 176
Sebastien.Desprez@adaptimmune.com

Investor Relations:
Juli P. Miller, Ph.D. – Senior Director, Investor Relations
T: +1 215 825 9310
M: +1 215 460 8920
Juli.Miller@adaptimmune.com

Released April 1, 2019