Kintara Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq: KTRA) and TuHURA Biosciences Inc announced on Wednesday that the companies are merging to form TuHURA Biosciences Inc.

The merger will focus on advancing personalised cancer vaccines and bi-functional ADCs, targeting resistance to cancer immunotherapy. TuHURA plans to launch a Phase 3 trial for IFx-2.0 cancer vaccine alongside Keytruda in treating advanced Merkel cell carcinoma in 2H 2024 under FDA's accelerated approval pathway.

TuHURA secured USD31m in financing, ensuring cash runway into late 2025. The merger is expected to close in Q3 2024, with Kintara equityholders owning up to 2.85% of the new company. Post-merger, the company will operate under the name 'TuHURA Biosciences Inc' and trade under the ticker 'HURA' on Nasdaq.

TuHURA's technologies aim to overcome primary and acquired resistance in cancer immunotherapy. IFx-2.0 utilizes proprietary plasmid DNA or mRNA to trigger an innate immune response against tumors, enhancing the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors like Keytruda. TuHURA also develops bi-functional ADCs targeting Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) to modulate their immunosuppressive effects on the tumour microenvironment.

The combined company, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, will be led by James Bianco, MD as President and CEO, and Dan Dearborn, CPA as CFO. The merger agreement, subject to shareholder approval, is expected to close in Q3 2024. Lucid Capital Markets, LLC advises Kintara, while H.C. Wainwright & Co. advises TuHURA.

Kintara Therapeutics, based in San Diego, focuses on novel cancer therapies, with REM-001 Therapy as its lead program for cutaneous metastatic breast cancer. TuHURA Biosciences, a Phase 3 registration-stage company, develops technologies to overcome resistance to cancer immunotherapy, including personalized cancer vaccines and bi-functional ADCs.