Eterna Therapeutics to Present at the ASGCT 27th Annual Meeting on Development of Beta 2 Microglobulin-Knockout (B2M-KO) iMSC Line with Enhanced Immunosuppressive Activity and Stealthing Features that May Further Augment the Therapeutic Potential of MSCs in Inflammatory Diseases

• The presentation reports the development of a beta 2 microglobulin-knockout (B2M-KO) iMSC line with enhanced immunosuppressive activity and stealthing features that may further augment the therapeutic potential of MSCs in treating inflammatory diseases by precluding batch-to-batch inconsistencies, promoting in vivo persistence, and enhancing the effector function of the cells
• The presentation is on Saturday, May 11^th, 2024

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Eterna Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ERNA) (“Eterna” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company using advanced cell engineering technology to develop transformational new medicines, today announces that Raven Hinkel will present at the 27^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, taking place in Baltimore, Maryland.

While mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have repeatedly demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in numerous preclinical models, their clinical translation has been greatly impeded by variability in therapeutic responses. This variability is often attributed to donor and source heterogeneity and limited expansion potential. Furthermore, MSCs can exhibit limited in vivo persistence due to clearance by host immune cells, which can also contribute to deficient therapeutic responses. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MSCs (iMSCs) promise to directly address many of the fundamental challenges facing MSC translation.

Here, we report the development of a beta 2 microglobulin-knockout (B2M-KO) iMSC line with enhanced immunosuppressive activity and stealthing features that may further augment the therapeutic potential of MSCs in treating inflammatory diseases by precluding batch-to-batch inconsistencies, promoting in vivo persistence, and enhancing the effector function of the cells.

The abstract concludes that B2M-KO iMSCs are more likely to evade immune clearance and exert their immunomodulatory effects, as demonstrated by their enhanced sensitivity of IDO1 expression and their improved ability to inhibit PBMC proliferation. Our data suggest that B2M-KO iMSCs may be a promising therapeutic agent for T-cell mediated autoimmune and inflammatory indications.

“We are thrilled to advance our iMSC research,” says Sanjeev Luther, President and CEO. “iPSC-Derived iMSCs drive our Multiple Sclerosis pipeline candidate and are an important scientific focus for our team.”

Presentation Details

Title: iMSCs Derived from mRNA-Engineered B2M-KO iPSCs Exhibit Enhanced Immunosuppressive Activity and Stealthing Features

Presenter: Raven Dance Hinkel, Research Associate II

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024

Time: 10:30am – 10:45am

Session Title: Novel Immune Effector Cell Manufacturing

Session Room: Ballroom 2

Location: Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD

About Eterna Therapeutics Inc.

Eterna Therapeutics is a life science company committed to realizing the potential of mRNA cell engineering to provide patients with transformational new medicines. Eterna has in-licensed a portfolio of over 100 patents covering key mRNA cell engineering technologies, including technologies for mRNA cell reprogramming, mRNA gene editing, the NoveSlice™ and UltraSlice™ gene-editing proteins, and the ToRNAdo™ mRNA delivery system from Factor Bioscience. NoveSlice™, UltraSlice™, and ToRNAdo™ are trademarks of Factor Bioscience. For more information, please visit www.eternatx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are any statements that are not statements of historical fact and may be identified by terminology such as “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “project,” “will” or other similar words and the negatives of such words. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, uncertainties related to: (i) the evolution of Eterna’s business model into a platform company focused on mRNA, iPS cell and gene editing technologies; (ii) Eterna’s ability to successfully, cost-effectively and efficiently develop its technology and products; (iii) Eterna’s ability to successfully commence clinical trials of any products on a timely basis or at all; (iv) Eterna’s ability to successfully fund and manage the growth of its development activities; and (v) Eterna ’s ability to obtain regulatory approvals of its products for commercialization. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements made in this communication speak only as of the date on which they were made, and Eterna does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law. Factors that may cause Eterna’s actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements contained in this press release are more fully disclosed in Eterna’s periodic public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors” in Eterna’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as under similar headings in Eterna’s subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

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