On May 20, 2021 PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing novel cancer therapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune T-cell activating technology, reported publication of abstract #2501 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) (Press release, PDS Biotechnology, MAY 20, 2021, View Source [SID1234580369]). The abstract summarizing interim data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-led phase 2 trial has been accepted for oral presentation at the 2021 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting taking place June 4-8. The presentation, scheduled for June 7, is expected to include results from a larger sample than the 14 patients included in the abstract.

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Additional data highlights from abstract #2501 include:

An overall objective response rate of 71% (10/14) in patients with refractory HPV16-associated cancers
1 complete response (anal cancer)
9 partial responses (3 cervical cancer, 2 vulvar/vaginal cancer, 2 anal cancer, 2 oropharyngeal cancer)
90% of these of these responses are ongoing after a median 5 months of follow up (9/10)
The NCI Center for Cancer Research’s Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology (LTIB) and Genitourinary Malignancies Branch (GMB) are jointly leading this Phase 2 trial (NCT04287868), which studies PDS0101 in combination with two investigational immune-modulating agents: bintrafusp alfa (M7824), a bifunctional "trap" fusion protein targeting TGF-β and PD-L1, and NHS-IL12 (M9241), a tumor-targeting immunocytokine. Bintrafusp alfa is being jointly developed by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and GlaxoSmithKline; NHS-IL12 is being developed by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

The trial is evaluating the treatment combination in both checkpoint inhibitor naïve and refractory patients with advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers that have progressed or returned after treatment. Objective response is measured by radiographic tumor responses according to RECIST 1.1. These reported data validate the preclinical studies published by the NCI demonstrating that the complementary mechanisms of action of the three immunotherapies which involve potent in-vivo HPV16-specific killer and helper T-cell induction with effective T-cell tumor infiltration, blocking of immune checkpoints as well as targeting of TGF-β resulted in superior tumor regression.

"The achievement of a 71% objective response rate in a difficult to treat patient population continues to strengthen the evidence of our novel Versamune platform’s potential ability to induce high levels of tumor-specific CD8+ killer T-cells that attack the cancer resulting in strong synergy with Bintrafusp alfa and NHS-IL12, thus leading to effective tumor regression," commented Dr. Lauren Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. "The initial data solidifies our belief that PDS0101’s published preclinical efficacy, when combined with these two immune-modulating agents, demonstrates the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients with advanced, refractory HPV-associated cancers who have limited treatment options."

There are more than 630,000 cases of HPV-associated malignancies including cervical, oropharyngeal and anal cancer worldwide annually. HPV 16 is responsible for most of these cases. About 15-20% of HPV-associated malignancies respond to PD-(L)1 inhibitors. However, for the overwhelming majority of patients who progress on these immunotherapies there is no effective standard of care therapy.

The abstract is now available online on the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) conference website: View Source

Abstract Number: 2501
Abstract Title: Phase II evaluation of the triple combination of PDS0101, M9241, and bintrafusp alfa in patients with HPV 16 positive malignancies.

Presenting Author: Julius Strauss, MD, National Cancer Institute
Session: Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy
Date: June 7, 2021
Time: 3:00 PM-6:00 PM EDT

Dr. Julius Strauss, Staff Clinician, LTIB, is serving as the Principal Investigator of this phase 2 clinical trial in advanced HPV-associated cancers. For patients interested in enrolling in this clinical study, please call NCI’s toll-free number 1-800-4-Cancer (1-800-422-6237) (TTY: 1-800-332-8615), email [email protected], and/or visit the website: View Source