Exhibit 99.1
Unum Therapeutics Implements Strategic Restructuring to Prioritize Efforts on
BOXR1030 for the Treatment of Solid Tumor Cancers
-BOXR1030 is a GPC3-targeted CAR T cell incorporating the novel GOT2 transgene
designed to improve T cell function in the solid tumor microenvironment by enhancing
T cell metabolism-
-Investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies are underway for BOXR1030 with
plans to submit an application to the FDA in late 2020-
-Unum concludes its Phase 1 ACTR707 programs and reduces workforce to focus
solely on BOXR1030-
CAMBRIDGE, MA, March 2, 2020 – Unum Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: UMRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing curative cell therapies for solid tumors, today announced plans to prioritize resources towards advancing its preclinical program, BOXR1030, for the treatment of solid tumor cancers. Unum’s BOXR1030 expresses aglypican-3 (GPC3) targeted CAR and incorporates the novel transgene glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (GOT2) to improve T cell function in the solid tumor microenvironment by enhancing T cell metabolism. Unum has initiated formal preclinical development activities, including preclinical safety testing and GMP process development, to support filing an IND application for BOXR1030 in late 2020.
As part of this effort, and to conserve resources for BOXR1030, Unum is concluding its ACTR707 clinical trials, including the Phase 1 trial(ATTCK-20-03) in combination with rituximab in relapsed/refractorynon-Hodgkin lymphoma and the Phase 1 trial(ATTCK-34-01) in combination with trastuzumab to treat advanced HER2+ solid tumor cancers. In addition, the company plans to reduce its current workforce by 43 employees (approximately 60 percent) to focus efforts on the BOXR1030 program. Unum also announced today that its Chief Scientific Officer, Seth Ettenberg, Ph.D., has resigned after five years of service in this role to the company. Unum expects to continue to leverage its BOXR discovery platform, potentially in collaboration with partners, to create and develop new BOXR product candidates to address a broad range of solid tumor cancers.
“Following a detailed review of our operations, opportunities, and cash reserves, we believe the decisions announced today are in the best interests of all Unum stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, employees and shareholders,” said Chuck Wilson, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Unum Therapeutics. “We remain committed to addressing the challenges of treating solid tumor cancers, and would like to thank the patients, their families, and the investigators who have made our efforts to date possible. In addition, we would like to thank Seth for his contributions to the preclinical discovery efforts here at Unum over the years and wish him the very best in his next endeavor.”