Sensei Biotherapeutics (NasdaqGM:SNSE) M&A announcement Transcript

Summary of Sensei Biotherapeutics and Faeth Therapeutics Acquisition Conference Call Company and Industry Overview - Company: Sensei Biotherapeutics (NasdaqGM:SNSE) - Acquisition Target: Faeth Therapeutics - Industry: Biotechnology, specifically focused on cancer treatment Key Points and Arguments 1. Acquisition Announcement: Sensei Biotherapeutics announced the acquisition of Faeth Therapeutics, which includes a concurrent financing and changes to the leadership team and board of directors [2][6] 2. Strategic Rationale: The acquisition is seen as a means to maximize shareholder value and is expected to create significant value for stockholders [6] 3. Faeth's Pipeline: Faeth is a clinical-stage company developing multi-node therapies aimed at blocking cancer growth signals, with its lead asset, PIKTOR, showing promising safety and efficacy data [6][7] 4. Financing Details: Sensei entered into a $200 million private placement with support from leading healthcare investors, which will strengthen its financial position [8] 5. Cash Runway: The combined cash from the private placement and existing funds is expected to extend Sensei's cash runway through multiple clinical milestones [8] 6. Leadership Changes: Anand Parikh, former CEO and co-founder of Faeth, has joined Sensei as COO and a board member [9] 7. PIKTOR Overview: PIKTOR is an investigational oral combination therapy targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, designed to improve tolerability and efficacy compared to traditional treatments [10] 8. Clinical Trial Results: In a phase 1b trial, PIKTOR achieved a 47% overall response rate in heavily pre-treated patients with various cancers, including an 80% response rate in endometrial cancer patients [11] 9. Future Trials: PIKTOR is currently in phase 2 trials for endometrial cancer, with plans for additional studies in breast cancer and other tumor types [12] 10. Market Potential: The focus on cancers with mutations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway presents a significant market opportunity, particularly as treatment standards evolve towards combination strategies [13] 11. Preclinical Pipeline: In addition to PIKTOR, Sensei has a preclinical pipeline that includes therapies for rectal cancer and pediatric rare diseases [13] 12. Acquisition Structure: The acquisition was structured as a stock-for-stock merger, with Faeth's equity exchanged for Sensei common stock and newly created Series B non-voting convertible preferred stock [15] 13. Ownership Post-Acquisition: Post-acquisition, Faeth's equity holders will own approximately 40.8% of Sensei's common stock, while private placement investors will own about 54.3% [17] 14. Use of Proceeds: Proceeds from the private placement will primarily be used to advance PIKTOR for key clinical readouts [17] Additional Important Information - Forward-Looking Statements: The call included forward-looking statements regarding the expected effects and opportunities related to the acquisition, which involve risks and uncertainties [3][4] - Investor Communication: Investors are encouraged to read the proxy statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC for important information regarding the transactions [5] - Future Updates: Sensei plans to provide updates on the progress of its clinical trials and the integration of Faeth in the coming weeks and months [19]