Exclusive License Agreement With Case Western Reserve University for Core-NK Platform

• Exclusive global license for CORE NK platform (CHM 0201) executed with Case Western Reserve University in Ohio
• Initial Phase 1 clinical trial results of the CORE NK platform (CHM 0201) were published demonstrating safety and encouraging activity in blood cancers and solid tumours
• One patient achieved a complete response that was sustained for over 15 months at time of publication
• Based on the initial CORE NK (CHM 0201) activity signal, a new clinical trial has been initiated using the CORE NK cells (CHM 0201) in combination with Vactosertib

Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX: CHM, “Chimeric”), a clinical-stage cell therapy company and an Australian leader in cell therapy, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) for the CORE-NK platform, invented by Dr David Wald.

The CORE-NK platform uses a novel, proprietary genetically-modified feeder cell line to activate and expand universal off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell products derived from healthy donors. The expanded CORE-NK cells exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity, metabolism, and expression of activating receptors compared to fresh, activated NK cells.

Under the agreement, Chimeric gains exclusive global rights to the CORE-NK platform for oncology, where Chimeric and CWRU are currently advancing multiple product candidates in Dr Wald’s laboratory under the recently announced Sponsored Research Agreement. Chimeric also receives exclusive global rights to the CORE-NK platform for immune disorders and viral infectious diseases.

“We are excited to continue building on our collaboration with CWRU with the definitive license agreement for the CORE-NK platform,” said Jennifer Chow, CEO and Managing Director of Chimeric. “This transaction builds significant value for Chimeric, first by bringing a highly promising and clinically de-risked asset with CHM 0201 fully into our portfolio, and second by establishing the foundation for a suite of next-generation genetically modified NK cell products.”

Chimeric’s NK cell therapy portfolio foundational asset, CHM 0201 was studied in a phase 1 clinical trial at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Ohio. Clinical results published earlier this year in the journal Transplantation and Cellular Therapy demonstrated safety with no GvHD (Graft versus host disease), NK cell persistence for at least 28 days, and encouraging early activity signals, particularly in blood cancers where all patients achieved disease control and one patient achieved a complete response that was sustained for over 15 months at time of study publication.

Chimeric’s exclusive global license from CWRU covers patent rights, knowhow, and biological materials for the NKF feeder cell line and CORE-NK manufacturing process in the fields of use, including access to regulatory documents for the first-in-human Phase 1 trial of CHM 0201. Upfront fees associated with the license agreement will be funded entirely from existing cash reserves. The agreement also includes industry standard development milestones, patent costs, maintenance fees, and royalties on commercial net sales.

Dr Wald is an Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, CWRU, a member of the Immune Oncology Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Associate Director for Basic Research, University Hospitals, Wesley Center for Immunotherapy. Chimeric previously announced its exclusive option agreement with CWRU in November 2021 and exercise of the exclusive option in May 2022.