Sensei Biotherapeutics Announces Clinical Trial Collaboration Agreement with AstraZeneca for Two Phase 2 Studies of SNS-301

Trials to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Preliminary Activity
of Sensei’s SNS-301, in Combination with IMFINZI® (durvalumab), in
Multiple Solid Tumor Types

GAITHERSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing precision immuno-oncology therapies, today announced a
clinical trial collaboration with AstraZeneca to evaluate the safety,
tolerability and preliminary activity of AstraZeneca’s IMFINZI®
(durvalumab), a human monoclonal antibody directed against programmed
death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), in combination with SNS-301. SNS-301, Sensei’s
first-in-class immunotherapy candidate, is a therapeutic cancer vaccine
utilizing a bacteriophage viral vector targeting aspartate β-hydroxylase
(ASPH), a novel embryonic antigen.

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca and Sensei will
collaborate to evaluate the combination of SNS-301 and IMFINZI® in
patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer in the neoadjuvant
setting in conjunction with TPF chemotherapy prior to surgical resection
and in ASPH+ patients with various locally advanced unresectable or
metastatic/recurrent solid tumors. AstraZeneca will supply IMFINZI® for
these clinical studies and Sensei will sponsor and fund the Phase 2
studies. AstraZeneca and Sensei will each retain full worldwide rights
to their respective molecules.

“We are extremely pleased to collaborate with AstraZeneca, a leader in
the cancer immunotherapy field. SNS-301 targets a novel mechanism to
activate and direct ASPH-specific T-cells to tumors. We believe that
when combined with IMFINZI®, SNS-301 has the potential to deepen and
broaden the overall immune-mediated response,” said John Celebi,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Sensei Biotherapeutics. “This
clinical collaboration strengthens our position as pioneers of precision
oncology therapeutics by focusing on improved clinical outcomes for
ASPH-positive patients through novel clinical combinations.”

About SNS-301

SNS-301 is a first-in-class immunotherapy candidate utilizing a
bacteriophage viral vector that targets human aspartate β-hydroxylase
(ASPH), a cell surface enzyme that is normally expressed during fetal
development. Following fetal development, the protein is no longer
expressed. Expression of ASPH is uniquely upregulated in more than 20
different types of cancer and is related to cancer cell growth, cell
motility and invasiveness. ASPH expression levels are inversely
correlated with disease prognosis. Though enhanced antigen presentation
and other engineered immunotherapeutic features, SNS-301 is designed to
overcome self-tolerance and induce robust and durable humoral and
cellular immune responses that are specific to ASPH. SNS-301 is
delivered through intradermal injection and avoids time consuming and
uncomfortable infusions, greatly facilitating ease of use.

About IMFINZI® (Durvalumab)

IMFINZI® (durvalumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1
and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80, countering the
tumor’s immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune
responses. As part of a broad development program, IMFINZI® is being
investigated as monotherapy and in combination with immuno-oncology (IO)
agents, small molecules, and chemotherapies across a range of tumors and
stages of disease.

About Sensei Biotherapeutics

Sensei Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing precision immuno-oncology therapies to transform the cancer
treatment landscape. The company is using its proprietary drug discovery
platform, called SPIRIT, to discover and develop both vaccines and
T-cell therapies, including SNS-301, its clinical stage cancer vaccine,
and SNS-723, its cell therapy program in preclinical development for
solid tumors and hematological cancers. These programs target ASPH, a
novel embryonic antigen. Sensei’s precision medicine approach in
immuno-oncology includes the use of companion diagnostics to select
patients who are most likely to respond to its tumor-specific antigen
therapies. Sensei Biotherapeutics is located in Gaithersburg, MD. For
more information, please visit www.senseibio.com.

Contacts

Media:
Kathryn Morris
The Yates Network
914-204-6412
[email protected]

Investor:
Julie
Seidel
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200
[email protected]