Proposed transaction would provide Coeptis
with two clinical stage assets leveraging NK cell therapies in
relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and
hospitalized respiratory infections, as well as preclinical
programs for hematologic and solid tumors
Clinical data from AML Clinical Trial Expected
during 2H 2023
WEXFORD, Pa. ,
April 18,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings,
Inc. (NASDAQ: COEP) ("Coeptis" or "the Company"), a
biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapy
platforms for cancer, announced it has entered into a binding term
sheet with Deverra Therapeutics, Inc. ("Deverra Therapeutics")
pursuant to which it has obtained an exclusive right, until
August 31, 2023, to negotiate towards
the acquisition or license of assets from Deverra Therapeutics
related to its proprietary allogeneic stem cell expansion and
directed differentiation platform for the generation of multiple
distinct immune effector cell types, including natural killer (NK)
and monocyte/macrophages. Deverra Therapeutics is currently
advancing clinical programs investigating these technologies in
relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-risk
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and patients hospitalized with
respiratory viral infections.
The transaction, if finalized, would provide Coeptis with, among
other assets, exclusive rights to two FDA approved Investigational
New Drug (IND) applications and two Phase 1 clinical trials
(NCT04901416, NCT04900454) investigating infusion of DVX201, an
unmodified natural killer (NK) cell therapy generated from pooled
donor CD34+ cells, in hematologic malignancies and viral
infections. In addition, Coeptis would gain access to a highly
scalable allogeneic cellular immunotherapy platform that is being
developed to generate and deliver off-the-shelf (no HLA matching),
cost effective, on demand cell therapies to a broad patient
population. Deverra expects phase I clinical trial data from its
AML study to be complete during 2H 2023.
Additionally, subject to the successful negotiation and
completion of any proposed transaction, Deverra Therapeutics'
current Scientific Founder, Chief Scientific Officer and EVP,
Research & Development, Colleen
Delaney, MD, would be expected to assume the position of
Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Coeptis Therapeutics. Dr.
Delaney is a world-renowned expert in cell and gene therapy
research with more than 20 years' experience in the translation of
scientific discovery to clinical practice, including all aspects of
cell therapy product development.
"This transaction would greatly expand Coeptis' technology
portfolio by incorporation of a cutting-edge allogeneic cell
therapy platform with extensive safety and clinical data and align
itself with leading experts in the field of cell and gene therapy,"
said Dave Mehalick, President and
CEO of Coeptis Therapeutics. Mr. Mehalick continued, "The addition
of these clinical and pre-clinical immune effector cell programs
would significantly diversify our R&D capabilities and bring a
clinical pipeline with multiple novel approaches to combination
cellular immunotherapy approaches, not yet achieved by others.
Importantly, the substantial capabilities of the allogeneic cell
therapy platform would open new pathways for Coeptis to consider
expanding its cell-based therapies beyond autologous CAR T. We are
excited about the possibility of exploring the application of both
the SNAP-CAR and GEAR technologies to allogeneic, off-the-shelf
immune effector cells. The NK and macrophage (MAC) immune effector
cell generation from Deverra's platform combined with Coeptis'
target specific CARs has the potential to result in development of
allogeneic NK and MAC cell therapies."
Dr. Delaney stated: "Deverra's allogeneic cell therapy platform
has been in use clinically since 2006, and we have generated
significant clinical and safety data since that time. This platform
has been shown to provide extreme flexibility and optionality in
the generation and modification of multiple distinct immune
effector cell types from a single platform. We are excited about
the prospect of bringing together our established allogeneic cell
platform with the novel targets and technologies from Coeptis to
generate first-in-class allogeneic cell therapies to treat a wide
range of life-threatening disorders in a cost effective and
clinically accessible way."
The proposed transaction is subject to confirmatory due
diligence, negotiation and execution of definitive documentation
based on agreed terms and other closing conditions, including third
party approvals, as well as a right of first refusal in place that
a third party possesses and will have a right to exercise. There
can be no assurance that the parties will reach a definitive
agreement related to the proposed acquisition or license of assets
or that, even if any such agreement is reached, any such
transaction will be successfully consummated.
About Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., together with its
subsidiaries including Coeptis Therapeutics,
Inc. and Coeptis Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., (collectively "Coeptis"), is a biopharmaceutical
company developing innovative cell therapy platforms for cancer
that have the potential to disrupt conventional treatment paradigms
and improve patient outcomes. Coeptis' product portfolio and rights
are highlighted by a universal, multi-antigen CAR T technology
licensed from the University of
Pittsburgh (SNAP-CAR), and the GEAR™ cell therapy and
companion diagnostic platforms, which Coeptis is
developing with VyGen-Bio and leading medical researchers at
the Karolinska Institutet. Coeptis' business model is designed
around maximizing the value of its current product portfolio and
rights through in-license agreements, out-license agreements and
co-development relationships, as well as entering into strategic
partnerships to expand its product rights and offerings,
specifically those targeting cancer. The Company is headquartered
in Wexford, PA. For more information on Coeptis
visit https://coeptistx.com/.
About Deverra Therapeutics
Deverra Therapeutics is a privately held clinical stage
biotechnology company dedicated to the development of allogeneic,
off-the-shelf (no matching required) cellular immunotherapies for
on-demand treatment of patients with cancer and infectious
diseases. Deverra is the only company with a proprietary and
clinically proven stem cell expansion technology that also serves
as starting material for generation of multiple fully functional
immune effector cells that can also be engineered to be potent
killers of cancer cells. Deverra was a pioneer developing universal
non-HLA matched allogeneic and off-the-shelf cell therapies that
have been utilized in multiple clinical trials with no safety
concerns.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release and statements of our management made in
connection therewith contain or may contain "forward-looking
statements" (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended). Forward-looking statements include statements
concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events
or performance, and underlying assumptions, and other statements
that are other than statements of historical facts. When we use
words such as "may," "will," "intend," "should," "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate" or similar
expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, we are
making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
not a guarantee of future performance and involve significant risks
and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ
materially and perhaps substantially from our expectations
discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause
such differences include but are not limited to: (1) the inability
to maintain the listing of the Company's securities on the Nasdaq
Global Market; (2) the risk that, if the Deverra transaction closes
it will disrupt current plans and operations of the Company; (3)
the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed
transaction, which may be affected by, among other things,
competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth
economically and hire and retain key employees; (4) the risks that
the Company's products in development or the targeted Deverra
assets fail clinical trials or are not approved by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration or other applicable regulatory authorities;
(5) costs related to integrating the assets and pursuing the
contemplated asset development paths; (6) changes in applicable
laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that the Company may be
adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive
factors; and (8) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on any
of the foregoing risks and other risks and uncertainties identified
in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"). The foregoing list of factors is not
exclusive. All forward-looking statements are subject to
significant uncertainties and risks including, but not limited, to
those risks contained or to be contained in reports and other
filings filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among
others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon
any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional
factors are discussed in the Company's filings made or to be made
with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. We
undertake no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the
date hereof unless required by applicable laws, regulations, or
rules.
CONTACTS
Coeptis Therapeutics, Inc.
Andy Galy, Sr. VP of Communications
andy.galy@coeptistx.com
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Investors
Jon Nugent
jnugent@tiberend.com
Media
David
Schemelia
dschemelia@tiberend.com
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SOURCE Coeptis Therapeutics, Inc.