Editas Medicine Initiates IND-enabling Activities for EDIT-201, an Allogeneic NK Cell Medicine for the Treatment of Solid Tumor Cancers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Editas Medicine Inc. (Nasdaq: EDIT), a leading genome editing company, today announced the initiation of IND-enabling activities for EDIT-201, an allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell medicine for the treatment of solid tumor cancers. 

“We have made significant progress in our HDNK (healthy-donor NK) cell medicine program, and we are excited to advance EDIT-201 into development for the treatment of solid tumors,” said Charles Albright, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Editas Medicine. “Our strategy is to develop cell-based medicines for the treatment of cancer by identifying oncologic diseases of high unmet need where differentiated medicines can be created using CRISPR technology. We are focused on solid tumors given the high unmet need and will pursue multiple cell types to create a portfolio of innovative medicines. We believe that EDIT-201, which uses innate immune cells, specifically NK cells, has the potential to be a transformational therapy. We look forward to presenting preclinical data on EDIT-201 at a scientific meeting later this year as we advance EDIT-201 towards the clinic.”

In parallel with its HDNK program, the Company is also advancing several other programs using CRISPR editing for the potential treatment of both solid and liquid tumors, including engineered induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived NK cells, or iNK cells, and engineered gamma-delta T cells. In addition, the Company is advancing oncology therapies with engineered alpha-beta T cells in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb.

Aboutimage desc for 49 Editas Medicine
As a leading genome editing company, Editas Medicine is focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a (also known as Cpf1) genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of treatments for people living with serious diseases around the world. Editas Medicine aims to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision genomic medicines for a broad class of diseases. For the latest information and scientific presentations, please visit www.editasmedicine.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘continue,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘target,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘would,’’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of the Company’s product candidates; availability and timing of results from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products and availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements.  These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.  Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Except as required by law, the Company explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contacts:
Media
Cristi Barnett
(617) 401-0113 
cristi.barnett@editasmed.com

Investors
Mark Mullikin
(617) 401-9083
mark.mullikin@editasmed.com

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