Medigene AG: Medigene presents development strategies for TCR therapies at CAR-TCR Summit Europe

Martinsried/Munich (pta005/26.02.2019/07:30 UTC+1) Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard, SDAX), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company focusing on the development of T-cell immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, announces that its CEO and CSO Prof. Dolores Schendel will give two presentations at the CAR-TCR Summit Europe that takes place from 25. - 27. February 2019 in London.

The CAR-TCR Summit Europe provides the attendees with the possibility to learn from the experience of industry pioneers, hear novel clinical updates and network with key opinion leaders. Prof. Dolores Schendel is invited to contribute with presentations on Medigene's TCR therapies to this conference.

On 26 February 2019 at 12.15 pm, Prof. Schendel will focus on the topic of "Next Generation TCR-T Cell Therapies Can Offer Improved Safety and Enhanced Efficacy." She will review the need for cutting-edge in vitro technologies. These have to fill a critical gap in pre-clinical safety and efficacy studies of TCR-T therapies, as adequate animal models don't exist for human T cell therapies. For example, Medigene uses real-time killing assays. These consist of two and three-dimensional cell culture systems employing hanging drop culture technologies, combined with fluorescent cell tracking and are used to assess fine specificity and functional avidity of TCR-T cells on tumor and normal tissue cells.

Her second topic is the hostile tumour microenvironment that requires additional enhanced functions of T cells. Prof. Schendel will share her thoughts on how genetic modifications of recipient T cells can achieve those additional functions. One possibility that Medigene is following is turning negative signals into positive signals through expression of chimeric co-stimulatory proteins to enhance effector cell functions. This strategy might overcome the negative effects of tumour cells. Medigene has recently acquired a PD-1/4-1BB molecule from HMGU for a clinical evaluation of this chimeric co-stimulatory receptor in combination with tumor-specific TCR-Ts to potentiate immune responses against solid tumors.

On 27 February 2019 at 11.00 am, Prof. Schendel will present Medigene's experiences on "Obtaining Clinical Trial Authorisation for TCR-Modified T Cells in Germany". She will discuss the young TCR field and how the clinical development is just ramping up worldwide for their interaction with the regulatory agencies on these novel therapies. Prof. Schendel will share her experience of gaining clinical trial authorisation of MDG1011, a PRAME specific, autologous TCR modified T cell therapy in Germany and review how Germany poses some special considerations due to its federal structure in order to facilitate clinical site start.

About Medigene's TCR-Ts: Medigene's first TCR-T candidate, MDG1011, is in a Phase I/II clinical trial started in 2018.
The TCR-T technology aims at arming the patient's own T cells with tumor-specific T cell receptors. The receptor-modified T cells are then able to detect and efficiently kill tumor cells. This immunotherapy approach attempts to overcome the patient's tolerance towards cancer cells and tumor-induced immunosuppression by activating and modifying the patient's T cells outside the body (ex vivo). TCR-T therapy is developed to utilize a higher number of potential tumor antigens than other T cell-based immunotherapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy.
Medigene is establishing a pipeline of recombinant T cell receptors and has a collaboration with bluebird bio, Inc. for the development of six TCR-Ts.

Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, ISIN DE000A1X3W00, Prime Standard, SDAX) is a publicly listed biotechnology company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The company is developing highly innovative immunotherapies to target various forms and stages of cancer. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-based therapies with the focus on T cell-receptor modified T cells (TCR-Ts) and has associated projects currently in pre-clinical and clinical development.
For more information, please visit http://medigene.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by Medigene may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements made herein. Medigene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. Medigene® is a registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned or licensed in select locations only.

Contact Medigene AG
Julia Hofmann, Dr. Robert Mayer
Tel.: +49 - 89 - 20 00 33 - 33 01
email: investor@medigene.com

In case you no longer wish to receive any information about Medigene, please inform us by e-mail (investor@medigene.com). We will then delete your address from our distribution list.

(end)

Emitter:	Medigene AG Lochhamer Straße 11 82152 Planegg Germany
Contact Person:	Medigene PR/IR
Phone:	+49 89 2000 33 3301
E-Mail:	investor@medigene.com
Website:	www.medigene.de
ISIN(s):	DE000A1X3W00 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Regulated Market in Frankfurt; Free Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate