WORCHESTER, Mass., Oct. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Bio, Inc. (“Mustang” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: MBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on translating today’s medical breakthroughs in cell and gene therapies into potential cures for difficult-to-treat cancers and rare genetic diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has accepted the Company’s Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application of MB-109 for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (“GBM”) and high-grade astrocytoma. Mustang is planning to initiate a Phase 1 multicenter clinical trial at City of Hope (“COH”) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (“UAB”) to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of MB-109, a novel combination of MB-101 (COH-developed IL13Rα2‐targeted CAR-T cell therapy) and MB-108 [Nationwide Children’s Hospital- (“Nationwide”) developed HSV-1 oncolytic virus] in adult patients with recurrent GBM and high-grade astrocytomas that express IL13Rα2 on the surface of the tumor cells.

As previously reported, preclinical data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (“AACR”) Annual Meeting in 2022 supported this combination therapy to potentially optimize results to treat recurrent GBM. The combination leverages MB-108 to reshape the tumor microenvironment (“TME”) and make cold tumors “hot,” thereby potentially improving the efficacy of MB-101 CAR-T cell therapy. Data presented separately on MB-101 and MB-108 showed that administration of these therapies was well tolerated in recurrent GBM patients. Two patients treated solely with MB-101 who had high levels of intratumoral CD3+ T cells pre-therapy (i.e., “hot” tumors) achieved complete responses lasting 7.5 and 31+ months, respectively. Importantly, of the 53 COH Phase 1 patients disclosed at AACR in 2022, these 2 complete responses were observed in the 2 patients with the “hottest” tumors prior to treatment with MB-101. Phase 1 clinical trials of MB-101 at COH and of MB-108 at UAB continue to enroll patients.

Manuel Litchman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Mustang, said, “We are very pleased with the FDA’s acceptance of our IND application for MB-109, which allows Mustang to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial to further evaluate combining MB-108 and MB-101, an attractive strategy for improving outcomes for patients with recurrent GBM and high-grade astrocytomas. Recurrent GBM remains a major challenge to treat, with a median overall survival rate of 6 months. We are committed to finding better treatment options for patients living with difficult-to-treat cancers and look forward to initiating our MB-109 Phase 1 clinical trial in 2024. The fact that this will be the first ever industry-sponsored trial to combine a CAR-T cell therapy with an oncolytic virus underscores Mustang’s commitment to innovation in the oncology and cell therapy space. Furthermore, FDA acceptance of our IND within 30 days of initial submission – despite the innovative aspect of the combination therapy and the complexity of the trial design – is testimony to the talent and resourcefulness of our team.”

About MB-109 (MB-101 (IL-13Rα2 targeted CAR-T cells) + MB-108 oncolytic virus)
MB-109 is Mustang’s designation for the treatment regimen combining MB-101 (COH-developed IL13Rα2‐targeted CAR-T cell therapy) with MB-108 (Nationwide-developed HSV-1 oncolytic virus). The combination is designed to leverage MB-108 to make cold tumors “hot” and potentially improve the efficacy of MB-101 CAR-T cell therapy. MB-108 oncolytic virus is first injected to infect tumor cells which, in turn, leads to reshaping of the TME through recruitment of endogenous CD8- and CD3-positive effector T-cells. This inflamed TME potentially permits MB-101 CAR-T cells injected into and around the tumor to better infiltrate into and throughout the tumor mass, undergo activation and, ideally, effect tumor cell killing.

About Mustang Bio
Mustang Bio, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on translating today’s medical breakthroughs in cell and gene therapies into potential cures for difficult-to-treat cancers and rare genetic diseases. Mustang aims to acquire rights to these technologies by licensing or otherwise acquiring an ownership interest, to fund research and development, and to outlicense or bring the technologies to market. Mustang has partnered with top medical institutions to advance the development of CAR-T therapies across multiple cancers, as well as lentiviral gene therapies for severe combined immunodeficiency. Mustang’s common stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Mustang files periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Mustang was founded by Fortress Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBIO). For more information, visit www.mustangbio.com.

Forward‐Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Such statements, which are often indicated by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “look forward to,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions. The Company’s forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs, including the timing of and our ability to make regulatory filings such as INDs and other applications and to obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidates, statements concerning the potential of therapies and product candidates and any other statements that are not historical facts. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to whether the Company’s third-party manufacturer is able to successfully perform its obligation to produce the Company’s products under the manufacturing services agreement on a timely basis and to acceptable standards; disruption from the sale of the Company’s manufacturing facility making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; negative effects of the announcement of the consummation of the sale of the Company’s manufacturing facility on the market price of the Company’s common stock; significant transaction costs; the development stage of the Company’s primary product candidates, our ability to obtain, perform under, and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks relating to the timing of starting and completing clinical trials; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2023, subsequent Reports on Form 10-Q, and our other filings we make with the SEC. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law, and we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Company Contacts:
Jaclyn Jaffe and Nicole McCloskey
Mustang Bio, Inc.
(781) 652-4500
ir@mustangbio.com

Media Relations Contact:
Tony Plohoros
6 Degrees
(908) 591-2839
tplohoros@6degreespr.com

Source:- Mustang Bio