Triumvira Immunologics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase II of TACTIC-2 Cell Therapy Trial for the Treatment of HER2+ Gastric and GEJ Cancers

AUSTIN, Texas and HAMILTON, ON and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Triumvira Immunologics, a clinical-stage company developing novel, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat patients with solid tumors, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in Phase II of its Phase I/II study TACTIC-2 (NCT04727151) investigating the safety and efficacy of autologous TAC-T cell lead asset, TAC01-HER2, in targeting HER2 in relapsed or refractory gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) tumors. TAC01-HER2 is a novel cell therapy based on genetically engineered autologous T cells expressing a T-cell Antigen Coupler (TAC) that recognizes human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

“This marks a significant milestone for our company, building upon the determination of the recommended Phase II dose, identifying gastric and gastroesophageal cancer patients as targets for the Phase II registration supporting study and the positive benefit we observed during the Phase I part of TACTIC-2,” said Deyaa Adib, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Triumvira Immunologics. “Despite considerable advances in the oncology field, HER2-positive gastric and gastro-esophageal cancers remain difficult to treat, and new therapeutic options are urgently needed especially in later treatment lines in a growing patient segment. Our TAC technology offers a novel approach that works by leveraging the natural signaling pathways of endogenous TCRs and modifying T cells into TAC T cells with demonstrated success in the treatment of these tumors. We are committed to providing clinically meaningful therapeutic benefits to this patient population with high unmet medical needs.”

Triumvira Immunologics to Present Clinical Data from TACTIC-2 Trial Investigating TAC01-HER2 at ESMO 2023 Congress and AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference

AUSTIN, Texas and HAMILTON, ON and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Triumvira Immunologics, a clinical-stage company developing novel, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat patients with solid tumors, today announced that it will present clinical data from its ongoing Phase I/II study investigating the safety and efficacy of autologous TAC-T cells targeting HER2 in relapsed or refractory solid tumors (TACTIC-2 /NCT04727151) at two upcoming scientific conferences: the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, being held October 20-24, 2023, in Madrid, Spain, and the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, being held October 11-15, 2023, in Boston. TAC01-HER2 is a novel cell therapy based on genetically engineered autologous T cells expressing a T-cell Antigen Coupler (TAC) that recognizes human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

The Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of Austin for 2023

From The Healthcare Technology Report
The Healthcare Technology Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of Austin for 2023. Undoubtedly, Austin stands as a bastion of health and well-being. Its extensive network of hiking, biking, and running trails, complemented by a state-of-the-art velodrome catering to cycling enthusiasts, reflects the city’s unwavering dedication to its residents’ physical fitness.

This steadfast commitment extends to a wealth of outstanding healthcare resources within Austin. Notably, four area hospitals have recently been named to a list of the top 100 hospitals in the U.S. Furthermore, Austin serves as a hub for cutting-edge healthcare technology companies on a global scale. The leaders in these companies, featured in this year’s list, have consistently exhibited exceptional leadership acumen. They adeptly strike a balance between achieving remarkable business success and maintaining a profound commitment to enhancing patient outcomes.

Decoding Cell Therapy Variants with Dr Andy Bader

From Drug Target Review
The field of cell therapy has emerged as a beacon of hope, promising transformative treatments for various diseases. Diving into the intricacies of this domain, this exclusive interview explores the distinctions between two key approaches – autologous and allogeneic cell therapies. We look at the nuances of cell sourcing, preclinical challenges, and clinical possibilities, guided by the expertise of Dr Andreas Bader, a distinguished figure in the industry with a profound track record in oncology drug discovery and strategic leadership.

Conquering New Frontiers in Cell Therapy, Paul Lammers, CEO, Triumvira Immunologics

From BioTech 2050 Podcast
Paul Lammers, M.D., is the CEO of Triumvira Immunologics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing unique, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat a broad range of patients with cancer. A Dutch-trained biologist and physician, Paul talks about starting his career in pharma and some of the commonalities between operating in pharma and biotech. He talks about being a CEO and how his approach to running a company has evolved over the years. He discusses the uncertainty in the market and how that’s informing how the company is approaching development activities. He dives into the fundamental challenges and opportunities within cell therapy and the work Triumvira is doing to treat cancer.

Advancements in Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors

In the first of 3 videos, Paul Lammers, MD, MSc, chief executive officer of Triumvira, discusses the company’s unique T antigen coupler (TAC) T-cell technology. Daniel Olson, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, the University of Chicago Medicine, presented an abstract about the ongoing phase 1/2 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of TAC01 in HER2-expressing relapsed or refractory tumors (NCT04727151) at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer 38th Annual Meeting November 1-5, 2023

Here, Lammers describes the TAC mechanisms and what sets it apart from chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
Related: About the Phase 1/2 Trial of TAC-01 in HER2-Expressing Solid Tumors

Biotech M&A Rebound Bodes Well for Venture Investors

Regulatory scrutiny of acquisitions could slow momentum

Biotechnology mergers and acquisitions are rebounding, a promising development for venture capitalists at a time when few startups are going public.

Top drugmakers could soon forfeit billions in revenue as medications lose patent protection. Meanwhile, valuations of smaller biotech companies have retreated from pandemic-era highs, leading to more acquisitions.

“Large pharma still has a lot of cash, and they have a lot of drugs that are going to go generic over the next five to 10 years,” said Mike Perrone, a biotech specialist with financial-services firm Robert W. Baird.

Triumvira Immunologics Strengthens its Leadership Team with Three Accomplished Life Sciences Executives

AUSTIN, Texas and HAMILTON, ON and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Triumvira Immunologics, a clinical-stage company developing novel, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat patients with solid tumors, today announced the strengthening of its leadership team with the appointments of Mr. Robert Williamson as President, Chief Operating Officer and member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Jeffrey Erickson as VP of Business Development, and Mr. Chris Murray as VP of Human Resources.

“The appointment of Robert as our President and Director, Chris as our VP of Human Resources, and the addition of Jeffrey to the team will be instrumental in our efforts to expand our team of experts and advance our T cell Antigen Coupler (TAC) technology and lead assets, including our novel autologous cell therapy TAC100-HER2, to late-stage clinical development,” said Paul Lammers, M.D., M.Sc., Chief Executive Officer of Triumvira. “We couldn’t be more excited to bring them on board.”

Claudin-18.2 attracts the cancer crowd

Astellas’s claudin-18.2-targeted antibody zolbetuximab provides a benefit in hard-to-treat metastatic gastric cancer, and leads a multi-modality herd of contenders.

Gastric cancer is a beast. Despite being the fourth most fatal cancer worldwide — killing nearly 770,000 people per year — drug developers have made little headway against it in decades. For most patients with metastatic disease, the first-line treatment is chemotherapy that offers an average overall survival of about 1 year. With Astellas’s recent filing of its claudin-18.2-targeted antibody zolbetuximab for regulatory approval in the USA, the EU and Japan, a new therapeutic option for a large subset of these patients is within reach.

Triumvira Immunologics to Showcase Clinical Findings from TACTIC-2 Clinical Trial Assessing TAC01-HER2 at 2023 ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer

AUSTIN, Texas and HAMILTON, ON and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Triumvira Immunologics, a clinical-stage company developing novel, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat patients with solid tumors, today announced that it will be presenting clinical data on its lead asset TAC01-HER2 for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive solid tumors at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer taking place in Barcelona, Spain, June 28 – July 1, 2023. The upcoming presentation will feature the latest clinical findings obtained from the ongoing Phase I/II trial of TAC01-HER2 (NCT04727151) among patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.

“We are honored to share our latest advancements in precision cell therapy at ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer. Our innovative and well-differentiated TAC01-HER2 cell therapy holds great promise in the treatment of HER2-positive solid tumors,” said Deyaa Adib, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Triumvira Immunologics. “This phase 1 data presentation represents a significant step forward in our mission to transform cancer care through the natural potential of T cells. We look forward to contributing to the scientific dialogue and working towards a future where targeted T-cell therapeutics redefine the landscape of cell therapies in solid tumors, specifically in late-stage gastric and esophageal cancers which have been an area of significant unmet need for a long time.”