Talaris Therapeutics is undergoing a major restructuring, which includes reducing its workforce by one-third and shifting the focus of its pipeline. This move is poised to have a significant impact on the organization as it looks to the future.
Talaris Therapeutics made a dramatic announcement Thursday morning, announcing the discontinuation of two clinical trials studying its lead candidate, FCR001, in kidney transplant recipients. Citing the pace of enrollment and the timeline to reach critical milestones, Talaris has made the difficult decision to abandon these trials.
FCR001 is an exciting allogeneic cell therapy in development, with the potential to revolutionize the organ transplant field. By targeting the underlying pathology and eliminating the need for immunosuppressants, this investigational therapy from Novartis’ gene and cell therapy unit could offer a safe and effective alternative to existing treatments.
The revolutionary asset is currently being tested in the groundbreaking FREEDOM-3 clinical trial, which aims to evaluate its potential to bring tolerance to scleroderma, an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the skin and other parts of the body. This trial follows the successful conclusion of the FREEDOM-1 and FREEDOM-2 trials and is set to take medical science to the next level.
Scott Requadt, CEO of Talaris, noted that the decision to halt the FCR001 trial was “exceptionally difficult” due to the promising early data seen in kidney transplant patients.
The need for viable treatments for scleroderma is great, yet current options are limited. Our candidate has the potential to address this unmet need and become a viable treatment option.
Talaris had a tumultuous year with FCR001, when in October the Phase III FREEDOM-1 trial was abruptly halted due to a patient death caused by acute graft-vs-host disease. Fortunately, two days later, a data monitoring committee approved the company to resume the trial.
The patient was one of three individuals participating in a study that resulted in a devastating diagnosis – grade II acute graft-vs-host disease (aGvHD). This diagnosis has a significant impact on their lives and requires intense medical care to manage the condition.
Talaris Therapeutics is reshaping its workforce and operations to prioritize the FREEDOM-3 clinical trial, and has set out to explore potential opportunities to maximize shareholder value, such as business combinations or divestitures. Two-thirds of the Company’s employees will be dedicated to advancing the trial, while the remaining third will utilize their chemistry, manufacturing, and controls expertise.