Marker Therapeutics Secures $9.5M CPRIT Grant To Investigate MT-601 In Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Marker Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on developing innovative T cell-based therapies for haematological cancers and solid tumours, has received a $9.5 million grant from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The funding will support the Phase 1 PANACEA study investigating the safety and tolerability of MT-601, a multi-tumor associated antigen (multiTAA)-specific T cell therapy, in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

MT-601, the company’s lead therapy, is currently being evaluated in patients with CD19-CAR relapsed lymphoma. Preliminary safety and efficacy data from the City of Hope National Medical Center study have shown sustained objective responses in three participants. MT-601 targets multiple tumour-specific antigens commonly found in various cancer types. Marker also plans to explore its potential for treating solid tumours. 

“We are pleased to receive $9.5 million from CPRIT to explore MT-601 in our Phase 1 study in patients with pancreatic cancer. The CPRIT application underwent multiple rounds of review by expert panels, and being awarded this grant underscores the innovation behind our therapy and recognises the potential impact of our study,” said Juan Vera, M.D., President and CEO of Marker Therapeutics. 

The approach is supported by encouraging early results from a study at Baylor College of Medicine, where multiTAA-specific T cells were tested in pancreatic cancer patients alongside chemotherapy. In this study, the treatment showed a favourable safety profile and durable cancer control, including a complete response in one patient, partial responses in three, and stable disease in six. Additionally, four patients showed measurable tumour reductions, and nine patients surpassed the median overall survival in historical controls treated with chemotherapy alone.

Dr Juan Vera, M.D, also added, “Being awarded a total of $9.5 million from CPRIT and $2 million from the NIH SBIR program to advance our lead asset, MT-601, beyond lymphoma to pancreatic cancer is an important acknowledgement of our work and reflects the reviewers’ confidence in our study. With the support of these highly competitive grants from CPRIT and NIH, we can advance MT-601 in pancreatic cancer without affecting operations in the ongoing study of MT-601 in patients with lymphoma.”

With this new CPRIT grant, Marker has received more than $30 million in non-dilutive funding from institutions such as the FDA, NIH, and CPRIT. The company recently secured a $2 million grant from the NIH’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to support its pancreatic cancer research. These combined funds will help advance MT-601 for pancreatic cancer, with clinical trials expected to begin in 2025.