Why Is Blood Cancer Focused Marker Therapeutics Stock Trading Higher Today?

Marker Therapeutics Inc MRKR released the preliminary results of the first participant treated with MT-601, its multi-tumor associated antigen (multiTAA)-specific T cell product targeting 6 TAAs, in the Phase 1 multicenter APOLLO clinical trial. 

The APOLLO trial is investigating the safety and efficacy of MT-601 for patients with lymphoma who have either failed or are ineligible to receive anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy.

This first APOLLO study participant had diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and was enrolled into the Phase 1 dose escalation stage of the trial after failing four prior lines of therapy, including anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy.

After relapse following anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy, the participant was treated with two doses of MT-601 at the 200 million cell dose level without prior lymphodepletion. 

MT-601 treatment was well tolerated, with no reports of higher than Grade 1 treatment-related adverse events.

The tolerability at this initial dose level is consistent with the favorable clinical safety profile and tolerability previously reported for other multiTAA-specific T cell products. 

Eight weeks after the 2nd infusion of MT-601, the participant demonstrated a complete metabolic response based on PET-CT scans.

Marker previously reported non-clinical proof-of-concept data that showed that MT-601 could potentially eliminate lymphoma cells resistant to anti-CD19 CAR T cells, highlighting the therapeutic potential of MT-601 in vitro.

Price Action: MRKR shares are up 11.10% at $6.13 on the last check Monday.