TORONTO and HOUSTON, TX, Nov. 16,
2017 /CNW/ - Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.
("Medicenna" or "the Company") (TSX "MDNA" and OTCQX
"MDNAF") a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, announced that
following the presentation of early results at the Congress for
Neurosurgeons (Oct 9-11, 2017),
additional clinical data from the on-going Phase 2b clinical trial
of MDNA55 were presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Society
of Neuro-Oncology ("SNO") being held in San Francisco (November
15-19, 2017).
Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz, MD, PhD,
Kinetics Foundation Chair in Translational Research and Professor
in Residence of Neurological Surgery at the University of California San Francisco, provided an
update on drug distribution and safety data from the first 15
patients treated to date in the MDNA55 Phase 2b clinical trial in
adults with recurrent glioblastoma ("rGBM"), the most common and
uniformly fatal form of brain cancer.
MDNA55, is the Company's lead immunotherapeutic agent targeting
the interleukin-4 receptor ("IL-4R") which is known to be
over-expressed in brain tumors and the tumor micro-environment but
not in healthy brain tissue.
"With MDNA55 and the techniques developed by the neurosurgeons
participating in this study, we are entering a new era of
high-volume drug delivery to tumors in the brain," states Dr.
Bankiewicz. "The greater the extent to which we can cover the tumor
and the at-risk area immediately surrounding it, the more chance we
have of changing the outcomes for the patients. These early data
show that we are clearly making advances in the accuracy with which
we can deliver MDNA55 into brain tumors and the extent of coverage
achieved and we are optimistic for the benefits this might deliver
to the patients."
In the study, MDNA55-05, investigators administer MDNA55
directly into brain tumors using a technique known as Convection
Enhanced Delivery ("CED"). CED allows precision delivery of
MDNA55 at high concentrations into the tumor tissue and the
surrounding healthy brain containing infiltrative tumor cells,
while avoiding exposure to the rest of the body. The Phase 2b
clinical trial is currently enrolling adult patients with rGBM at
leading brain cancer centers in the US and Europe.
The oral and poster presentations at the SNO conference outline
that through a process of real-time image guided delivery together
with the ability to continuously monitor and adjust infusion
parameters, drug delivery is being dramatically improved with
significant enhancement in target coverage. A previous CED study in
rGBM, without the advances implemented by Medicenna, [ref: J
Neurosurg. 2010 Aug;113(2):301-9], was able to achieve, on average,
coverage of only 20% of the target volume. In contrast, in the
current study (MDNA55-05), a comparable estimate for coverage of
the tumor and a 1cm high-risk margin around it showed approximately
65% coverage with the figure rising to 75% for the tumor area
alone, with some patients achieving near 100% coverage of the
target volume. Real-time imaging with co-infused MRI contrast agent
has enabled optimization of catheter placement and infusion
parameters. The early results also demonstrate that higher infusion
volumes, which were only recently implemented in the protocol, are
associated with superior target coverage.
About Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.
Medicenna is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing
novel highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines™
and first in class Empowered Cytokines™ (ECs). Its wholly
owned subsidiary, Houston-based Medicenna BioPharma, is
specifically targeting the Interleukin-4 Receptor (IL4R), which is
over-expressed by at least 20 different types of cancer affecting
more than one million new cancer patients every year. Medicenna's
lead IL4-EC, MDNA55 is enrolling patients in a Phase 2b clinical
trial for rGBM at leading brain cancer centres in the US. MDNA55
has completed 3 clinical trials in 72 patients, including 66 adults
with rGBM, demonstrated compelling efficacy and obtained Fast-Track
and Orphan Drug status from USFDA. Unlike most other cancer
therapies, Medicenna's IL4-ECs have the potential to purge both the
tumor and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, offering a
unique treatment paradigm for a large majority of cancer
patients.
For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements
relating to the future operations of the Company and other
statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking
statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may",
"should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All
statements other than statements of historical fact, included in
this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding
future plans and objectives of the Company, statements related to
the ongoing status of the Phase 2b clinical trial of MDNA55 for the
treatment of recurrent glioblastoma, that we are entering a
new era of high-volume drug delivery to tumors in the brain, that
increased amounts of drug will lead to superior tumor coverage and
others are forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the Company's expectations include the risks
detailed in the annual information form of the Company dated
June 15, 2017 and in other filings
made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from
time to time.
The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the
preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be
incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to
differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of
which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is
cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking
information. Such information, although considered reasonable by
management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect
and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.
Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are
expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made
as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or
revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only
as expressly required by Canadian securities law.
SOURCE Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.