Cell Biotech Co., Ltd.

Talaris Therapeutics aimed to transform solid organ transplants with a cell therapy that replaces anti-rejection drugs patients need for rest of their lives. But after clinical trial setbacks, the biotech has decided to end two kidney transplant studies. Although a separate test of its experimental therapy is continuing in a rare autoimmune condition, Talaris has commenced a restructuring plan that it said could culminate in a merger or sale of the company. The restructuring announced Thursday will lead to the layoff of about one-third of Talaris’s staff. As of the end of the third quarter of 2022, the Louisville, Kentucky-based biotech reported its headcount was 131. Talaris’s lead therapeutic candidate, FCR001, is comprised of immune and stem cells from the organ donor. These cells are intended to reprogram the transplant recipient’s immune system to tolerate the new organ. The hope was that this one-time cell therapy would enable a patient to avoid the need for lifelong immunosuppressive therapies, which increase the risk of infections and other complications. Talaris was testing its cell therapy in a Phase 3 study enrolling first-time kidney transplant patients and a Phase 2 test in those who have previously received a kidney from a living donor. Last summer, the company implemented changes to the Phase 3 study to mitigate the risk of a graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a complication in which donor cells attack the patient. In October, Talaris reported a patient death. Given the trial modifications in place, the independent data monitoring committee recommended the study continue. But on Thursday, Talaris said it is ending both kidney transplant studies, a decision “primarily attributable to the pace of enrollment and the associated timeline to critical milestones.” The study that will continue is evaluating FCR001 in scleroderma, a rare disease in which the immune system attacks multiple organs and tissues. This disease can be treated with a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, but the procedure’s risks include GvHD. Measuring the occurrence of this complication is one of the main goals of this Phase 2 study. “While we are disappointed that our work in kidney transplantation will not continue, given the potential of FCR001 to induce durable tolerance, we intend to continue its evaluation for scleroderma, which remains a very high unmet medical need for which there are limited treatment options,” Talaris CEO Scott Requadt said in a prepared statement. Talaris said it will no longer provide guidance for the scleroderma study or any of its other programs. The company also won’t provide a timetable for its strategic review. In a regulatory filing, Talaris said it expects to complete the layoffs by the end of February. The workers who remain will focus on cell therapy manufacturing and conducting the scleroderma clinical trial. Talaris estimates it will incur $2.9 million in restructuring costs in the first and second quarters of this year. As of the end of 2022, Talaris reported its cash position was $181.3 million. Shares of Talaris opened at $1.72 each on Thursday. When Talaris raised $150 million in its 2021 IPO, the biotech priced its shares at $17 apiece.

SEOUL, South Korea, April 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Biotech (KRX 049960), a probiotics & microbiome company, has acquired a European patent (Registration No. EP3453718) for the anticancer protein P8 originated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus for the new colorectal cancer drug "PP-P8". Following the Korean patent (Registration No. KR10-1910808) and Japanese patent (Registration No. JP6586248), it has also acquired patents in Europe, thereby gain a toehold for entry into the global pharmaceutical market by securing global intellectual property rights. Through this patent, it was found that the anticancer protein P8 has a remarkable therapeutic effect on colorectal cancer. In addition, in the non-clinical trial, the inhibitory effect of P8 on colorectal cancer cells was proven in mice and primates, and its safety against toxicity and side effects were also confirmed. It was developed to be produced from Pediococcus pentosaceus by genetically engineered strain. It is being developed as a treatment for colorectal cancer, and is awaiting approval for a phase I clinical trial from the South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety(MFDS). PP-P8 is a microbiome-based oral gene therapy, a new first-in-class colorectal cancer drug. It is a therapeutic agent using genetic techniques based on safe probiotics. Therefore, it is expected to be helpful in overcoming the shortcomings of chemical anticancer drugs, which have side effects caused by high concentration administration and long-term use. In addition to the patent for the anticancer protein P8, Cell Biotech has obtained Korean patents for the drug delivery system(DDS) and gene expression cassette. At the same time, patents in Europe, the United States, and Japan are in progress, expanding its position in the global pharmaceutical market. An official from Cell Biotech said, "In order to target the global colorectal cancer treatment market, which amounts to about $10 billion per year, patents are being registered not only in Korea but also in various countries. By preoccupying overseas patents, we will be reborn as a representative Korean company leading the development of new microbiome drugs and securing technological competitiveness." Company Codes: Korea:049960