March Biosciences Company Profile

Background

March Biosciences, founded in 2021, is a Houston-based clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for cancers unresponsive to current immunotherapies. Originating from the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Texas Children’s Hospital, the company focuses on advancing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, with a particular emphasis on T-cell malignancies.

Key Strategic Focus

March Biosciences' strategic objectives include:

Advancing MB-105: Progressing the lead CD5-targeted CAR-T therapy through clinical development phases to address relapsed and refractory CD5-positive T-cell lymphomas.

Pipeline Expansion: Developing additional cell therapies targeting various hematologic malignancies.

Manufacturing Optimization: Establishing scalable and robust manufacturing processes to support clinical development and future commercialization.

Financials and Funding

The company has successfully secured over $51 million in funding to date, comprising:

Series A Financing: In October 2024, March Biosciences closed an oversubscribed $28.4 million Series A round led by Mission BioCapital and 4BIO Capital, with participation from KdT Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Volnay Therapeutics, Modi Ventures, Mansueto Investments, TMC Venture Fund, Cancer Focus Fund, and Small Ventures.

Non-Dilutive Funding: Additional support from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and the NIH SBIR program.

The capital is allocated to advancing the Phase 2 development of MB-105, expanding the therapeutic pipeline, and enhancing manufacturing capabilities.

Pipeline Development

MB-105

Description: A first-in-class autologous CD5-targeted CAR-T cell therapy designed to treat CD5-positive hematologic malignancies, including T-cell lymphoma (TCL), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Clinical Trials:

Phase 1: Demonstrated a 44% overall response rate in TCL patients, indicating promising safety and efficacy.

Phase 2: Scheduled to commence in early 2025 to further evaluate efficacy and safety.

Regulatory Status: Granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA in January 2025 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory CD5-positive T-cell lymphoma.

Technological Platform and Innovation

March Biosciences distinguishes itself through:

Proprietary CAR Design: MB-105 employs a unique CAR structure that selectively targets malignant cells while preserving normal T-cell function, addressing challenges like T-cell fratricide.

Manufacturing Collaboration: Partnered with Volnay Therapeutics to develop scalable manufacturing processes essential for clinical development and commercialization.

Leadership Team

Sarah Hein: Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Previously served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at the TMC Accelerator for Cancer Therapeutics and held roles at Mercury Fund and Resonant Therapeutics.

Peter Olagunju: Chair of the Board of Directors. Appointed in December 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience in cell and gene therapy development, including leadership positions at TCR² Therapeutics, FerGene, and Bluebird Bio.

Stefan Wildt: Board Member. Co-founder and CEO of Volnay Therapeutics, with prior leadership roles in cell and gene therapy units at Novartis and Takeda.

Leadership Changes

December 2024: Peter Olagunju elected as Chair of the Board of Directors, succeeding the previous chair.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The CAR-T therapy market is experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in immunotherapy and increasing approvals for hematologic malignancies. The market is characterized by rapid innovation and a competitive landscape.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors include:

Kite Pharma (Gilead Sciences): Focuses on CAR-T therapies for B-cell malignancies.

Novartis: Develops CAR-T treatments like Kymriah for various hematologic cancers.

Juno Therapeutics (Bristol-Myers Squibb): Engages in CAR-T therapy development for hematologic malignancies.

March Biosciences differentiates itself by targeting T-cell malignancies, a less addressed area in CAR-T therapies.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Volnay Therapeutics: Collaborates to develop scalable manufacturing processes for MB-105.

Baylor College of Medicine: Conducts clinical trials and provides research support.

Operational Insights

March Biosciences' strategic focus on T-cell malignancies positions it uniquely in the CAR-T therapy market. The partnership with Volnay Therapeutics enhances manufacturing capabilities, providing a competitive edge in scalability and commercialization readiness.