Immunovaccine Achieves Breakthrough in Support of Developing Personalized Cancer Immunotherapies
July 12 2017 - 6:05AM
Immunovaccine Inc. (TSX:IMV) (OTCQX:IMMVF), a clinical stage
immuno-oncology company, today announced a significant achievement
in its personalized cancer medicines program. Immunovaccine
scientists have successfully formulated 14 neoepitope cancer
peptides into one single DepoVax formulation. In preclinical
testing, the resulting personalized cancer vaccine demonstrated the
ability to generate specific killer T cell responses against cancer
peptides. Immunovaccine has filed a patent application covering
this novel DepoVax-based rapid formulation process. The supporting
data for the patent includes what the Company believes to be one of
the first documented reports of 14 different neoepitope peptides
synthesized into a single formulation.
“We believe that the ability to effectively combine a high
number of diverse peptides without manufacturing limitations
represents an important milestone in the deployment of personalized
neoepitope immunotherapies,” said Frederic Ors, Immunovaccine’s
Chief Executive Officer. “Being able to do it so quickly and
efficiently should provide an opportunity to develop truly
personalized therapies on a scale that could, in our opinion, truly
impact the way in which bespoke medicines are used in today’s
treatment landscape.”
This breakthrough evolved as part of the Company’s DPX-NEO
program, which aims to develop patient-specific immunotherapies
targeting neoepitopes (the mutated proteins, and potential targets
of an immune response, produced by a patient's own tumors.) The
methodology under this patent application can include peptides with
a wide range of physical and chemical characteristics—including
those that are insoluble. Immunovaccine believes that this novel
process combines the ease and speed of manufacturing with other
advantages inherent in DepoVax formulations, including long-term
formulation stability, as well as the potential to elicit a strong
and specific T cell response maintained for a year or more.
Neoepitope vaccines have demonstrated significant potential in
the realm of personalized medicinesi,ii. However, the complexity
and potential expense of advancing these patient-specific vaccines
includes substantial challenges for development and large-scale
deployment. Intensive work is required to identify patient-specific
peptide epitopes, and synthesize them rapidly into a single
formulation. In addition, when the neoepitope peptides are selected
from patients, investigators have not always been able to include
many optimal candidates due to manufacturing limitations of the
technology required to synthesize a single formulation.
Immunovaccine believes that the DepoVax-based formulations
demonstrate the ability to address these limitations as they do not
limit the target peptides to highly soluble peptides. This
flexibility should enable investigators to optimize the choices of
immunogenic targets access a broader range of candidates.
“Developing a suitably immunogenic delivery system that can
accommodate multiple potential targets is one of the most
significant challenges faced by this type of therapy, and while we
are thrilled to have found a potential solution to this limitation,
we believe that the implications of this formulation process can go
well beyond the neoepitope space,” said Marianne Stanford, Vice
President, Research, at Immunovaccine. “We see future applications
of the DepoVax multiple peptide formulation using a high number of
tumor-associated antigens in one immuno-oncology agent, or multiple
targets for an infectious disease within one vaccine. We are
excited to explore the potential applications of this
technology.”
About DepoVax TechnologyThe technology
underlying DepoVax formulations suspends vaccine components in an
oil diluent that prevents their release at the site of injection.
This process forces immune cells to take up these components in an
active process, delivering them directly to immune organs such as
the lymph nodes. DepoVax formulations have undergone extensive
testing in more than 60 preclinical and seven clinical studies. In
clinical trials, these formulations have consistently demonstrated
the ability to generate robust T and B cell responses, and durable
immune responses.
Immunovaccine had previously announced a DPX-NEO collaboration
with UConn Health, and is in active discussions with additional
industry partners to expand the program.
About ImmunovaccineImmunovaccine Inc. is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to making
immunotherapy more effective, more broadly applicable, and more
widely available to people facing cancer and infectious diseases.
Immunovaccine develops T cell activating cancer immunotherapies and
infectious disease vaccines based on DepoVax, the Company’s
patented delivery platform that provides controlled and prolonged
exposure of antigens and adjuvant to the immune system.
Immunovaccine has advanced two T cell activation therapies for
cancer through Phase 1 human clinical trials and is currently
conducting a Phase 1b study with Incyte Corporation assessing lead
cancer therapy, DPX-Survivac, as a combination therapy in ovarian
cancer. The Company is also exploring additional applications of
DepoVax™, including DPX-RSV, an innovative vaccine candidate for
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which has completed a Phase 1
clinical trial. Immunovaccine also has ongoing clinical projects to
assess the potential of DepoVax to address malaria and the Zika
virus. Connect at www.imvaccine.com.
Immunovaccine Forward-Looking StatementsThis
press release contains forward-looking information under applicable
securities law. All information that addresses activities or
developments that we expect to occur in the future is
forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based
on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the
statements are made. However, they should not be regarded as a
representation that any of the plans will be achieved. Actual
results may differ materially from those set forth in this press
release due to risks affecting the Company, including access to
capital, the successful completion of clinical trials and receipt
of all regulatory approvals. Immunovaccine Inc. assumes no
responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this press
release except as required by law.
_____________________________i Sahin, U. et. al.
(2017). Personalized RNA mutanome vaccines mobilize poly-specific
therapeutic immunity against cancer. Nature.
doi:10.1038/nature23003.ii Ott, PA et. al (2017) An
immunogenic personal neoantigen vaccine for patients with melanoma.
Nature. doi: 10.1038/nature22991.
Contacts for Immunovaccine:
MEDIA
Mike Beyer, Sam Brown Inc.
T: (312) 961-2502 E: mikebeyer@sambrown.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Pierre Labbé, Chief Financial Officer
T: (902) 492-1819 E: info@imvaccine.com
Patti Bank, Managing Director, Westwicke Partners
O: (415) 513-1284
T: (415) 515-4572 E: patti.bank@westwicke.com
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