ATRA

Atara Biotherapeutics develops allogeneic off-the-shelf T-cell therapies for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases, leveraging proprietary technologies creating readily available cellular immunotherapies manufactured in advance rather than requiring patient-specific customization. Headquartered in South San Francisco, California, Atara's lead program tab-cel (tabelecleucel) represents an Epstein-Barr virus-specific T-cell therapy treating EBV-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, a rare but serious cancer affecting organ transplant recipients with suppressed immune systems unable to control EBV-infected cells. The company received FDA approval for tab-cel in January 2022 marketing it under brand name EBVALLO, representing the first and only allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy approved in the United States and providing treatment options for patients failing conventional therapies including rituximab-based regimens. Atara's off-the-shelf approach addresses key limitations of autologous CAR-T therapies requiring patient-specific manufacturing consuming 3-4 weeks potentially delaying treatment for rapidly progressing cancers, with allogeneic products manufactured from healthy donors enabling immediate availability from frozen inventory when patients require treatment. The company's pipeline includes ATA188, an allogeneic EBV-specific T-cell therapy in Phase 2 development for progressive multiple sclerosis potentially treating an autoimmune condition through targeting EBV-infected B cells contributing to MS pathology. Atara generates initial revenues from EBVALLO commercial sales targeting approximately 200-300 eligible patients annually in the United States with orphan drug exclusivity protecting against competition through 2029, while investing heavily in commercialization infrastructure including specialty sales forces, medical affairs teams, and patient access programs. The company reported annual operating expenses exceeding $300 million supporting commercial launch activities and continued clinical development across its pipeline. Atara faces significant challenges including limited market size for rare EBV-driven cancers constraining revenue potential, competition from emerging allogeneic cell therapy developers including Allogene Therapeutics and Precision BioSciences, and capital requirements funding ongoing operating losses until EBVALLO revenues and potential future product approvals generate profitability.