Surface Oncology Reports Financial Results and Corporate Highlights for Second Quarter 2023
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Surface Oncology Reports Financial Results and Corporate Highlights for Second Quarter 2023

Surface Oncology, Inc.
Surface Oncology, Inc.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surface Oncology (Nasdaq: SURF), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation immunotherapies that target the tumor microenvironment, today reported financial results and corporate highlights for the second quarter 2023.

"We are pleased with the progress we have made over the past several months which includes the advancement of the SRF388 and SRF114 clinical trials and the significant efforts we have undertaken towards completing our planned merger with Coherus BioSciences," said Rob Ross, M.D., chief executive officer of Surface. "To truly realize the potential of SRF388 and SRF114, it is essential that these molecules are developed with both the resources and companion drugs needed to successfully advance them through the clinic and bring them to the market. We firmly believe that with Coherus, our programs will have the best possible opportunity to benefit patients and realize value for our shareholders."

Proposed Merger of Surface Oncology and Coherus BioSciences
As announced on June 16, 2023, the proposed merger will strengthen Coherus' pipeline with global rights to two innovative, competitively positioned, clinical-stage assets: SRF388, the only IL-27 targeted antibody in clinical development which has demonstrated activity as a monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors; and SRF114, a high affinity, fully human antibody demonstrated to specifically bind to CCR8.   SRF388 and SRF114 have potential as monotherapy and as combination treatments with other immuno-oncology agents, including Coherus' toripalimab.

In conjunction with the merger announcement, Surface conducted a reduction in force that affected approximately 30 employees or 50 percent of the workforce. Surface anticipates it will have net cash of $20 million to $25 million at the closing of the proposed merger.

If the merger is not approved by shareholders, Surface anticipates its remaining cash and cash equivalents will provide runway through 2023, compared to its previous guidance of cash runway into the second half of 2024. This reduced cash runway is a result of expenditures related to the merger including repayment of a $25 million loan and costs associated with the termination of the lease at 50 Hampshire Street. If the merger does not close, Surface's board of directors intends to evaluate all viable strategic alternatives including bankruptcy or dissolution proceedings.

Near-term Corporate Milestones
Surface Oncology will hold a Special Meeting of Stockholders on September 7, 2023, to approve the merger with Coherus. A definitive proxy statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed to all registered stockholders as of July 21, 2023, the record date. The Surface Oncology board of directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote in favor of all proposals.