Good Morning America Features Baylor College of Medicine Pancreatic Cancer Study Utilizing Marker Therapeutics’ MAR-T Cell Technology
Rhea-AI Summary
Marker Therapeutics (Nasdaq: MRKR) highlighted Baylor College of Medicine’s TACTOPS Phase 1/2 pancreatic cancer study on Good Morning America on Jan 22, 2026, and the research was recently published in Nature Medicine. The Baylor study reported a favorable safety profile and up to a 84.6% disease control rate in Arm A when Multi-Antigen Targeted T cells were combined with frontline chemotherapy. In Arm A the median duration of response was 7.5 months and median overall survival was 14.1 months; infused T cells were detected up to 12 months post-treatment. Marker plans a company-sponsored trial (NCT06549751) with expanded antigen targets, higher cell doses and lymphodepletion, has SBIR and CPRIT funding, and anticipates clinical initiation in H1 2026.
Positive
- Up to 84.6% disease control rate in Arm A when combined with frontline chemotherapy
- Median overall survival of 14.1 months reported in Arm A
- Infused T cells detected up to 12 months post-treatment
- Company received NIH SBIR and CPRIT funding to support the program
- Plans company-sponsored trial (NCT06549751) targeting higher doses and expanded antigens
Negative
- Data are from a Phase 1/2 early-stage study and are not confirmatory evidence of efficacy
- Planned company-sponsored study will change key variables (dose, antigen profile, lymphodepletion), so prior results may not be directly replicated
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, MRKR declined 10.95%, reflecting a significant negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -8.3% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 8 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $4M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $32M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers show mixed, stock-specific moves: LPTX is up 238.84%, while ADAP and SNSE are down 17.57% and 7.05%, respectively. With no peers in momentum scanners and MRKR up 2.94%, trading appears driven more by company-specific factors than a sector-wide trend.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 | Pancreatic data update | Positive | +16.2% | Publication of Baylor pancreatic MAR-T data with 84.6% disease control. |
| Nov 14 | Earnings and updates | Positive | +3.5% | Q3 2025 results plus MT-601 data and funding runway commentary. |
| Nov 05 | Board appointment | Positive | +1.7% | Addition of experienced oncology cell therapy executive to board. |
| Nov 03 | Conference presentations | Positive | -2.9% | Announcement of MT-601 data presentations at ASH meeting. |
| Oct 06 | OTS program milestone | Positive | +13.1% | First patient treated in off-the-shelf MT-401 RAPID study. |
Positive clinical and corporate news has often been followed by positive 24h price reactions, with only one recent divergence on a conference update.
Over the last several months, Marker released multiple positive updates across its pipeline. On Oct 6, 2025, first-patient dosing in the off‑the‑shelf MT‑401 program coincided with a 13.1% rise. Subsequent ASH conference data on MT‑601 saw a modest -2.87% move despite favorable efficacy signals. Board strengthening and Q3 2025 financial/clinical updates in November prompted smaller gains. Most recently, the Jan 5, 2026 Baylor pancreatic cancer data publication drove a 16.23% increase, underscoring investor sensitivity to pancreatic and MAR‑T milestones.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock dropped -10.9% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite supportive clinical context would contrast with the 16.23% rise seen after the prior Baylor pancreatic data release on Jan 5, 2026. The article largely reiterates favorable metrics such as the 84.6% disease control rate and detectable T cells up to 12 months. Pressure could reflect profit-taking after earlier gains or broader risk sentiment rather than a change in the underlying data or development plans.
Key Terms
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma medical
autologous medical
frontline chemotherapy medical
lymphodepletion medical
ClinicalTrials.gov regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
National broadcast highlights the need for new approaches in one of the deadliest forms of cancer
HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marker Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company with the worldwide exclusive license of Multi-Antigen Targeted T cells (also referred to as Multi-Antigen Recognizing T cells, or MAR-T cells, by Marker), a technology developed at Baylor College of Medicine for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumors, today announced that Baylor College of Medicine’s TACTOPS clinical study in pancreatic cancer was featured on Good Morning America on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
The segment spotlighted the Baylor-led research recently published in Nature Medicine evaluating autologous Multi-Antigen Targeted T cell therapy in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and highlighted the potential of Multi-Antigen Targeted approaches to address a significant unmet need in pancreatic cancer (Musher B et al, Nature Medicine, 2026).
“We are honored to see the Baylor pancreatic cancer study receive national attention,” said Juan Vera, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Marker Therapeutics. “We congratulate Dr. Ann Leen, Dr. Benjamin Musher, and the Baylor research team on advancing this important work, and we appreciate the opportunity to help raise awareness of innovative cell therapy approaches being explored for patients facing pancreatic cancer. We believe this visibility underscores the promise of MAR-T cells and the importance of continued clinical development to improve patient outcomes.”
As previously reported, the Phase 1/2 pancreatic cancer study conducted at Baylor College of Medicine demonstrated a favorable safety profile and showed up to
Building on this encouraging Baylor clinical study, Marker seeks now to recapitulate or potentially improve upon these results in an upcoming Company-sponsored study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06549751) by increasing the target antigen profile, using higher cell doses and incorporating lymphodepletion to further promote T cell expansion. The Company has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and anticipates clinical initiation of the pancreatic cancer program in the first half of 2026.
Broadcast Details
Program: Good Morning America (ABC)
Aired: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Segment Link: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/129449690
About MAR-T cells
The multi-antigen recognizing (MAR) T cell platform (formerly known as multiTAA-specific T cells) is a novel, non-genetically modified cell therapy approach that selectively expands tumor-specific T cells from a patient's/donor’s blood capable of recognizing a broad range of tumor antigens. Unlike other T cell therapies, MAR-T cells allow the recognition of hundreds of different epitopes within up to six tumor-specific antigens, thereby reducing the possibility of tumor escape. Since MAR-T cells are not genetically engineered, Marker believes that its product candidates will be easier and less expensive to manufacture, with an improved safety profile compared to current engineered T cell approaches and may provide patients with meaningful clinical benefits.
About MT-601
The Company’s lead product, MT-601, is a multi-antigen recognizing (MAR) T cell product that utilizes a non-genetically modified approach that specifically targets six different tumor antigens upregulated in tumor cells (Survivin, PRAME, WT-1, NY-ESO-1, SSX-2, MAGEA-4). Marker is currently investigating MT-601 in the Phase 1 APOLLO trial (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05798897) for the treatment of patients with lymphoma who have relapsed after or are ineligible to receive anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapies. Due to the broad target recognition profile of MT-601, the Company is exploring its potential application beyond lymphoma in patients with pancreatic cancer. The Company’s pancreatic cancer program is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (Award Number R44CA295168), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT, Award Number DP250150).
About Marker Therapeutics, Inc.
Marker Therapeutics, Inc. is a Houston, TX-based clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The Company was founded at Baylor College of Medicine, and clinical trials that enrolled more than 200 patients across various hematological and solid tumor indications showed that the Company’s autologous and allogeneic MAR-T cell products were well tolerated and demonstrated durable clinical responses. Marker’s goal is to introduce novel T cell therapies to the market and improve patient outcomes. To achieve these objectives, the Company prioritizes the preservation of financial resources and focuses on operational excellence. Marker’s unique T cell platform is strengthened by non-dilutive funding from U.S. state and federal agencies supporting cancer research.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release concerning the Company’s expectations, plans, business outlook or future performance, and any other statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: our research, development and regulatory activities and expectations relating to our non-engineered multi-tumor antigen specific T cell therapies; the effectiveness of these programs or the possible range of application and potential curative effects and safety in the treatment of diseases; the timing, conduct, interim results announcements and outcomes of our clinical trials of our product candidates, including MT-601 for the treatment of patients with lymphoma or pancreatic cancer. Forward-looking statements are by their nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to the risks set forth in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and other SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at WWW.SEC.GOV. The Company assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release except as may be required by law.
Media and Investor Contact
Marker Therapeutics, Inc.
+1 (713) 400-6400
investor.relations@markertherapeutics.com
FAQ
What did Marker Therapeutics (MRKR) announce about the Baylor pancreatic cancer study on Jan 22, 2026?
What were the key clinical results reported for the Baylor Phase 1/2 pancreatic study cited by MRKR?
How long were infused MAR-T cells detected after treatment in the Baylor study mentioned by MRKR?
What is Marker’s planned follow-up study for pancreatic cancer (MRKR) and when will it start?
What changes will Marker make in its company-sponsored pancreatic trial (MRKR) compared with the Baylor study?
Does Marker have funding for its pancreatic program (MRKR)?
