Merlin Biotech Reveals Novel Cancer Immunotherapy at Biotech Showcase 2023
Doylestown, Pennsylvania – January 20, 2023 Merlin Biotech, a spinout from the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, presented its first asset last week at the 15th Annual Biotech Showcase, an investor conference focused on driving advances in biotechnology and life sciences.
“MER-101 triggers multiple anti-cancer pathways in one therapy by delivering mRNA directly into tumors to distal growth,” said CEO Randall N. Hyer, MD, PhD, MPH. “It’s the first of many highly innovative therapeutics we intend to develop for diseases in which few currently exist.”
Hyer, former SVP Global Medical Affairs at Moderna, was integral to the fast-tracked global rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine using clinically-proven mRNA technology to infiltrate and activate the immune system.
“Merlin Biotech plans to utilize the recent technological advancements to treat a much wider range of diseases afflicting our global population, including life-threatening solid cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and Lyme disease,” said Hyer.
Hyer won the Startup Springboard competition in November 2022 against 11 other highly selected companies at Biotech Week Boston, one of the industry’s largest events with over 4,000 participants spanning the drug development value chain.
Offering world-renowned scientific experts and robust intellectual property in mRNA development and oncology immune-modulators, MERLIN Biotech now seeks a combined raise of $20M in a $5M tranche to complete IND-enabling studies and launch PhI with an additional $15M to complete PhI and initiate PhII studies.
MER-101 continues to demonstrate efficacy throughout testing with zero observed changes in health or off-tissue expression of the Ubiquitin-specific protease 6 (USP6), a naturally occurring protein that correlates with survival in multiple cancers.
As the only USP6-targeted program of its kind, MER-101 has the potential to treat the rare pediatric cancer Ewing sarcoma, as well as late-stage cancer of the pancreas, bladder, lungs, ovaries, cervix, breasts, skin, liver, and lymphoma.
For more information regarding Merlin Biotech and its MER-101 novel cancer immunotherapy, please contact: Media@merlinbiotech.com
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, regarding Merlin Biotech’s development of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines against adult and pediatric cancer, chronic diseases like hepatitis B, and infectious diseases such as Lyme disease. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Merlin’s control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Merlin disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Merlin’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.
