On January 3, 2023 PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, reported an exclusive global license agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany for the tumor-targeting IL-12 fusion protein M9241 (formerly known as NHS-IL12), which will join the pipeline as PDS0301 (Press release, PDS Biotechnology, JAN 3, 2023, View Source [SID1234625745]). M9241 appears to enhance the proliferation, potency and longevity of T cells in the tumor. The combination of Versamune and IL-12 is patented by PDS Biotech and is designed to overcome tumor immune suppression utilizing a different mechanism from checkpoint inhibitors.

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Under the terms of the agreement, PDS Biotech will receive from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany an exclusive license to M9241. PDS Biotech will assume responsibility for future development, commercialization, and manufacturing of M9241.

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will receive an upfront cash payment of $5 million and will be entitled to up to $11 million in development and regulatory milestone payments including first commercial sales for the first 2 indications, and up to $105 million in commercial milestones, and a 10% royalty on future sales of M9241 with standard step-down provisions. Merck KGaA will receive 378,787 shares of PDS Biotech’s common stock having a value of $5 million, based on the closing price of PDS Biotech’s common stock on December 30, 2022.

"We are pleased to have partnered with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to advance the development of M9241, a highly innovative cytokine therapy," said Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, PDS Biotech CEO. "Under the licensing arrangement between Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and PDS Biotech, assumption of an equity stake by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in PDS Biotech further confirms the potential of the Versamune platform and the data generated to date with this combination therapy. I’d like to thank the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany team for their support of PDS Biotech’s mission to potentially offer more cancer patients improved treatment options."

M9241 was studied in a novel triple combination at the National Cancer Institute in a Phase 2 trial (NCT04287868) in combination with PDS0101, a Versamune based HPV16-targeted immunotherapy, and bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein targeting two independent immunosuppressive pathways (PD-L1 and TGF-β). The triple combination was studied in checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-naïve and -refractory patients with advanced HPV-positive anal, cervical, head and neck, vaginal, and vulvar cancers who have failed prior therapy.

Data highlights for patients who had failed prior treatments including CPIs:

Median overall survival for treated patients is 21 months in 29 CPI refractory patients. The reported historical median OS in patients with CPI refractory disease is 3-4 months.

63% (5/8) of treated patients with the optimal dose combination had significant tumor shrinkage of over 30% (objective response). With the standard of care, the reported percentage of patients having an objective response is less than 10%.

79% (11/14) of treated patients demonstrated a greater than two-fold increase in HPV16-targeted T cells.

Results for patients who had failed prior treatments but were CPI-naïve also continue to appear to be encouraging:

88% (7/8) of CPI naïve patients had an objective response.

38% (3/8) of responders had a complete response.

In CPI naïve subjects, 75% (6/8) remain alive at a median follow-up of 27 months. As a result, median OS has not yet been reached. Historically median OS for similar patients with platinum experienced CPI naïve disease is 7-11 months.

PDS Biotech has a scheduled meeting with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss a registrational trial for investigating the triple combination of M9241, PDS0101 and a checkpoint inhibitor in recurrent/metastatic HPV-positive cancers.

Dr. Lauren V. Wood, Chief Medical Officer at PDS Biotech, commented, "M9241 seems to be unique in its ability to target the tumor’s microenvironment and appears to further promote proliferation of Versamune-induced T cells in the tumors while also potentially enhancing the killing potency of the T cells. With the addition of M9241 to our Versamune-based pipeline products, our goal is to develop and achieve checkpoint inhibitor-agnostic and independent combinations in advanced cancers. We look forward to expanding clinical development of our novel investigational combination products."

Conference Call and Webcast
PDS Biotech will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, beginning at 8:00 AM EST. Participants should dial 877-407-3088 (United States) or 201-389-0927 (International) and reference conference ID 13734890. To access the webcast, please use the following link. The event will be archived in the investor relations section of PDS Biotech’s website for six months.