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Positive clinical results on Orca-T presented at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting.    |    Read more

Positive Clinical Results from More than 100 Patients Treated with Orca Bio’s Lead Investigational High Precision Cell Therapy Presented at 63rd ASH Annual Meeting

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Positive Clinical Results from More than 100 Patients Treated with Orca Bio’s Lead Investigational High Precision Cell Therapy Presented at 63rd ASH Annual Meeting

Pooled study results showed significantly higher graft-versus-host disease-free, relapse-free survival rates and improved overall survival rates with Orca-T compared to standard of care
Data from Phase 1b/2 trials include 109 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis and other hematological malignancies
Data from eight patients with myelofibrosis who received Orca-T showed regression of marrow fibrosis
Orca-T was manufactured reliably and delivered with vein-to-vein times of 72 hours or less
Company plans to commence Phase 3 study in early 2022

MENLO PARK, CA, Apr. 25, 2022 – Orca Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing purified, high-precision cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, genetic blood disorders and autoimmune diseases, today announced that positive new data were presented at the 2022 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy ASTCT and CIBMTR Tandem Meetings in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The new data on Orca Bio’s lead investigational high-precision cell therapy, Orca-T, include updated results from 137 patients with hematologic malignancies, which continued to show an increase in overall survival rates and a reduction of acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) compared to standard of care; positive outcomes in a subset of patients with myelofibrosis who received Orca-T; and new analyses demonstrating Orca Bio’s manufacturing platform is reliable, robust and scalable.

"These data from an expanded group of patients are very encouraging and demonstrate that Orca-T appears to improve survival while reducing GvHD. This could be a compelling option for patients battling serious hematological malignancies who currently face devastating transplant-related risks," said Everett Meyer, M.D., Ph.D., primary investigator. "These results, combined with the reliable and centralized Orca-T manufacturing, could potentially transform treatment options for patients and physicians."

Orca Bio presented pooled data from 137 patients in the single-center Phase 2 and multi-center Phase 1b trials of Orca-T with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with at least 100 days of follow-up and a median of 341 days. For comparison purposes, an independent CIBMTR-based control arm was identified, consisting of similar patients with hematologic malignancies who received a standard of care allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (“alloHSCT”) over a similar timeframe. Results demonstrated that:

  • Rates of moderate-to-severe chronic GvHD were low among Orca-T recipients, occurring in only 5% of patients at one year compared to 38% who received a standard alloHSCT.
  • Orca-T showed the potential for lower rates of moderate-to-severe chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) at 1 year post-transplant (3% vs. 43%; p<0.0005).
  • Overall survival rates with Orca-T (90% vs. 78%; p<0.03) and rates of chronic-GvHD-free survival (87% vs. 45%; p<0.0001) were improved.
  • Orca-T was manufactured reliably and delivered with vein-to-vein times of 72 hours or less across the continental U.S.


Additionally, Orca Bio presented findings from a manufacturing reliability analysis of 100 Orca-T products in the Phase 1b trial. All investigational cell therapies were manufactured at Orca Bio’s cGMP facility in Sacramento, CA, and transplant centers and donor sites were located across the U.S. All products were successfully delivered and infused to patients within 72 hours or less.

"We produce a unique batch of drug for each patient who receives an Orca-T product, and this drug is made up of fresh, living cells that need to be infused on an extremely rapid timeline," said Nate Fernhoff, Ph.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer at Orca Bio. "Reliable and scalable manufacturing have been integral to the development of our therapies since day one. These results not only show that Orca-T continues to reduce GvHD and improve survival rates over time, but that we have maintained the ability to reliably manufacture, deliver and infuse all patients in a timely manner regardless of donor and patient location. This is an important indication of our ability to potentially deliver this therapy urgently and seamlessly to patients in need."

In a separate poster, Orca Bio presented updated data on the treatment impact of Orca-T in 12 patients with myelofibrosis compared to nine patients who received a standard of care alloHSCT. Orca-T recipients had lower incidence of acute and chronic GvHD (33% with Orca-T versus 100% with alloHSCT) and the data suggest Orca-T was well-tolerated. Treatment with Orca-T resulted in engraftment with regression of marrow fibrosis, indicating potential efficacy for the treatment of myelofibrosis.

Based on the favorable results of the Phase 1b and 2 clinical trials, a randomized registrational Phase 3 trial evaluating Orca-T against standard of care alloHSCT, named Precision-T, is now open. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Links to the abstracts follow:

The full presentation is available on www.orcabio.com.

“The lower rates of graft versus host disease and improved relapse-free survival suggest Orca-T has the potential to become a safer and more effective treatment option for patients living with serious blood cancers.”

Ivan Dimov, Ph.D., cofounder and chief executive officer of Orca Bio.

About Orca Bio

Orca Bio is a late-stage biotechnology company developing purified, high-precision cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases and genetic blood disorders. Our investigational therapies are designed to deliver better survival rates with dramatically fewer risks than the standard of care. At Orca Bio, we hope to not only replace patients' blood and immune systems with healthy ones, but restore their quality of life. For more information, visit www.orcabio.com and follow Orca Bio on Twitter: @orcabio.


Contact:

Corporate Communications

Kelsey Grossman

media@orcabio.com


Investor Relations

Joshua Murray

ir@orcabio.com

Visit our newsroom
Orca Bio to Present New Clinical Data on Orca-T at the 63rd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

Press release

Menlo Park, CA

November 4, 2021

Orca Bio to Present New Clinical Data on Orca-T at the 63rd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

Oral and poster presentations will include one-year follow-up data from an expanded group of patients and an analysis of treatment outcomes in patients with myelofibrosis

MENLO PARK, CA, November 4, 2021 – Orca Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing purified, high-precision cell therapies for cancer, autoimmune and genetic blood disorders, today announced that new data will be presented from a single-center Phase 2 trial and a multi-center Phase 1b trial at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. Specifically, pooled data from patients treated with Orca-T, an investigational high-precision cell therapy product being studied in patients with hematologic malignancies, will be shared in an oral presentation. Additionally, results of Orca-T in a subset of patients with myelofibrosis from those same trials will be shared in a poster presentation.

“Our clinical experience with Orca-T has grown significantly over the past year and we are pleased to present data on an expanded group of patients who now have one year of follow-up with Orca-T,” said Ivan Dimov, Ph.D., cofounder and chief executive officer of Orca Bio. “We look forward to presenting these important findings at ASH as we continue to work to deliver on our promise of maximizing patient survival while minimizing the compromise of toxicities to enable better outcomes.”

The ASH abstracts are now available at www.hematology.org.

Details of the Orca Bio presentations follow:

Orca-T Results in High GVHD-Free and Relapse-Free Survival Following Myeloablative Conditioning for Hematological Malignancies: Results of a Single Center Phase 2 and a Multicenter Phase 1b Study

Abstract Number: 98

Session: 722. Allogeneic Transplantation: Acute and Chronic GVHD, Immune Reconstitution: Prevention of graft vs. host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Presentation Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 9:45 AM EST

Location: Georgia World Congress Center, B302-B303

Poster Presentation: Outcomes for Myelofibrosis Patients Following Myeloablative Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Using the Orca-T Graft from HLA-Matched Related and Unrelated Donors

Abstract Number: 1819

Session: 722. Allogeneic Transplantation: Acute and Chronic GVHD, Immune Reconstitution: Poster I

Presentation Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM EST

Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Hall B5

About Orca Bio

Orca Bio is a late-stage biotechnology company developing purified, high-precision cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases and genetic blood disorders. Our investigational therapies are designed to deliver better survival rates with dramatically fewer risks than the standard of care. At Orca Bio, we hope to not only replace patients' blood and immune systems with healthy ones, but restore their quality of life. For more information, visit www.orcabio.com and follow Orca Bio on Twitter: @orcabio.


Contact:

Corporate Communications

Kelsey Grossman

media@orcabio.com

Investor Relations

Joshua Murray

ir@orcabio.com


Visit our newsroom
Orca Bio Announces Updated Orca-T Clinical Data Presented at the 2021 TCT (Transplantation & Cellular Therapy) Meetings of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR)

Press release

Menlo Park, CA

February 11, 2021

Orca Bio Announces Updated Orca-T Clinical Data Presented at the 2021 TCT (Transplantation & Cellular Therapy) Meetings of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR)

Orca-T (n=50) with single-agent graft versus host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis when compared with a cohort of patients who received a standard-of-care (SOC) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) (n=144) and a 2-agent GvHD prophylaxis demonstrated:

  • Improved 1-year GvHD-free and Relapse-Free Survival (GRFS) (75% vs 31%
  • Decreased incidence of grade 2+ acute GvHD (aGvHD) at 100 days (10% vs 30%)
  • Decreased chronic GvHD (cGvHD) at 365 days (3% vs 46%)

MENLO PARK, CA, February 11, 2021 – Orca Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing high-precision investigational cell therapies, today announced updated clinical data from its first-generation investigational therapy Orca-T, which was presented at the 2021 TCT Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR by Everett Meyer, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Stanford University.I

Results from multicenter (NCT04013685) and single-center (NCT01660607) phase I/II trials showed that patients receiving Orca-T (n=50) with single-agent GvHD prophylaxis demonstrated improved 1-year GvHD-free and Relapse-Free Survival (GRFS) (75% vs 31%) when compared with a cohort of patients who received a standard-of-care (SOC) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) (n=144) and 2-agent GvHD prophylaxis.

As of the data cut-off, Orca-T plus single-agent GvHD prophylaxis was well-tolerated in the clinical trial, with a decreased incidence of grade 2+ acute GvHD (at 100 days: 10% vs 30%) and chronic GvHD (at 365 days: 3% vs 46%). The high-precision investigational cellular products continue to be successfully manufactured and scaled in a central facility and were delivered to patients at multiple clinical sites with a vein-to-vein time of less than 72 hours. The presentation can be viewed on the Orca Bio website.

“Orca-T continues its groundbreaking performance in our phase 1b clinical trial where it is under investigation to improve survival by preventing transplant-related mortality, aGvHD, and cGvHD,” said Nate Fernhoff, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Orca Bio.

“Orca-T continues its groundbreaking performance in our phase 1b clinical trial where it is under investigation to improve survival by preventing transplant-related mortality, aGvHD, and cGvHD."

Nate Fernhoff, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Orca Bio.

About Orca Bio

Orca Bio is a late-stage biotechnology company developing purified, high-precision cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases and genetic blood disorders. Our investigational therapies are designed to deliver better survival rates with dramatically fewer risks than the standard of care. At Orca Bio, we hope to not only replace patients' blood and immune systems with healthy ones, but restore their quality of life. For more information, visit www.orcabio.com and follow Orca Bio on Twitter: @orcabio.


Contact:

Corporate Communications

Kelsey Grossman

media@orcabio.com

Investor Relations

Joshua Murray

ir@orcabio.com


Visit our newsroom
Orca Bio to Present at the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

MENLO PARK, CA, January 6, 2021 – Orca Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing high-precision cell therapies for patients with blood diseases, today announced that Ivan Dimov, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, will present a company overview at the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The presentation will be held virtually on Monday, January 11, 2021, at 1:55 PM PT (4:55 PM ET), immediately followed by a Q&A session.

Management will be available for meetings during the week of the conference.

First Clinical Data From Ongoing Orca-T Trial Shows Significantly Improved 12-Month Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD)-Free and Relapse-Free Survival (GRFS) in Blood Cancer Patients Receiving a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT)
Orca Bio Announces Oral Presentation of Orca-T Clinical Data at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting

Data provide insights into manufacturing efficiency, logistics, and early clinical outcomes of Orca-T for patients with blood cancers

MENLO PARK, CA, November 4, 2020 – Orca Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, today announced that preliminary data from the phase I/II clinical trials of Orca-T (NCT04013685 and NCT01660607) will be presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, to be held virtually from December 5-8, 2020. Data will be presented on manufacturing, logistics, and early clinical outcomes. Patients in the Orca-T trial are compared with a retrospective contemporaneous control group from Stanford University. Everett Meyer, MD, PhD, Medical and Scientific Director of the Cellular Therapy Facility, Stanford Health Care and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University, will present the data.

Orca-T is a high-precision allogeneic cell therapy under investigation to replace a conventional mobilized blood product in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The therapy is designed with the goal of preventing graft-versus-host disease and other transplant related complications. Orca-T is manufactured via a proprietary GMP platform in a central lab. Patients with both related donors and unrelated donors are eligible and fresh, viable products are distributed to clinical sites around the continental United States. Data supporting reliability of manufacturing and transport will also be presented.

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted Orca-T regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) and orphan drug designation to treat patients eligible for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The RMAT designation provides Orca Bio the avenue to receive early guidance from the FDA to steer manufacturing and clinical development.

“This therapy was originally pioneered by Dr. Everett Meyer and Dr. Robert Negrin in a single-center trial at Stanford University, and Orca Bio has further developed the Orca-T drug in a multicenter trial. Leveraging the Orca Bio manufacturing platform, we aim to provide access to this potentially curative cell therapy to patients worldwide,” said Nate Fernhoff, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Cofounder of Orca Bio.

Details of the presentation

Orca Bio Receives Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) Designation for Orca-T

FDA grants RMAT and Orphan Drug Designations (ODD) to Orca-T for treating patients eligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant

MENLO PARK, CA, October 14, 2020 – Orca Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted RMAT designation to Orca-T (NCT04013685). Orca-T is an investigational allogeneic, high-precision cell therapy for patients with blood cancers who are eligible for a hematopoietic (blood) stem cell transplant. In addition, Orca-T has received ODD from the FDA for enhancing cell engraftment in patients who qualify for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

RMAT is a dedicated program designed to expedite the development of new regenerative therapies, including cell therapies that have the potential to treat life-threatening medical conditions. Cell therapies granted the RMAT designation also receive the benefits of fast track and breakthrough therapy designations. These advantages include early guidance from the FDA to steer manufacturing and clinical development, such as determination of intermediate endpoints to potentially support accelerated approval. ODD status is granted for therapies that address rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US. If a therapy with ODD receives the first FDA approval for the designated condition, it is eligible for 7-year market exclusivity.

For many patients with blood cancers, blood stem cell transplants from donors are the only hope for a cure. However, conventional transplants are often associated with cancer relapse and complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD)—a condition in which immune cells from the donor attack the patient’s healthy cells, leading to organ failure and even death. Orca-T is a precisely controlled formulation of hematopoietic stem cells and T cells that aims to improve outcomes for these patients.

“The RMAT and ODD for Orca-T is uplifting news for patients with various blood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and myelofibrosis,” said Ivan Dimov, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder of Orca Bio. “We now have the opportunity to work closely with the FDA to open potential ways to support accelerated approval.” Clinical data from the ongoing Orca-T trial will be presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting later this year.