Validation of ONCOS-102 potential to generate tumor-specific immune responses in vivo
Oslo, Norway, 12 September 2018 – Targovax ASA (OSE: TRVX), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing immune activators to target hard to treat solid tumors, is pleased to note that pre-clinical data from its ONCOS oncolytic virus program has been published in two leading, peer reviewed publications, the Journal of Medical Virology and Cancer Gene Therapy.
The first paper, entitled “Antitumor-specific T-cell responses induced by oncolytic adenovirus ONCOS-102 (AdV5/3-D24-GM-CSF) in peritoneal mesothelioma mouse model” was published in the Journal of Medical Virology, [Vol 90:1669–1673, date 24 May 2018]. This paper demonstrates that Targovax’s oncolytic virus, ONCOS-102, induces T-cells specific to the tumor associated antigen (TAA) mesothelin in a mesothelioma mouse model. Mesothelin is overexpressed in many types of cancer, and particularly frequently in mesothelioma. This result provides an important in vivo mechanistic proof that ONCOS-102 can generate a directed T-cell response towards a well-known TAA. The paper can be found here.
The second paper, entitled “Quantification and functional evaluation of CD40L production from the adenovirus vector ONCOS-401” was published in Cancer Gene Therapy on 30 July 2018. This paper describes one of Targovax’s pre-clinical oncolytic viruses, ONCOS-401, which carries a transgene for CD40-ligand (CD40L), an important signalling molecule activating a wide range of immune and inflammatory responses. The study shows that ONCOS-401 produces functional CD40L, and also describes a rapid and simple assay to quantify the efficacy of CD40L production in vitro. The abstract can be found here.
Magnus Jäderberg, Chief Medical Officer at Targovax, commented:
“The data published in these leading peer reviewed journals provides further scientific evidence for the broad potential of our ONCOS oncolytic virus platform. It is especially encouraging to see evidence of ONCOS-102 generating T-cells activated to recognize the important tumor antigen mesothelin. This is probably the most well-established antigen in mesothelioma, providing important scientific rationale for our ongoing phase II trial in this indication.”
For further information, please contact:
Renate Birkeli, Investor Relations
Phone: +47 922 61 624
Email: renate.birkeli@targovax.com
Media and IR enquires:
Andreas Tinglum – Corporate Communications (Norway)
Phone: +47 9300 1773
Email: andreas.tinglum@corpcom.no
Simon Conway/Stephanie Cuthbert – FTI Consulting (International)
Phone: +44 20 3727 1000
Email: Targovax@fticonsulting.com
About Targovax
Activating the patient’s immune system to fight cancer
Targovax (OSE:TRVX) is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing oncolytic viruses to target hard-to-treat solid tumors. Immuno-oncology is currently one of the fastest growing therapeutic fields in medicine.
Targovax’s lead product candidate, ONCOS-102, is a genetically modified oncolytic adenovirus, which has been engineered to selectively infect and replicate in cancer cells. It activates the immune system to generate tumor-specific immune responses. In a phase I monotherapy trial, ONCOS-102 induced both local and systemic innate and adaptive immune activation, with associated clinical benefit. In an ongoing phase I trial, patients who have progressed on anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors and treated with ONCOS-102 in combination with Keytruda, demonstrated responses in three of nine patients (33% ORR) including one complete response. ONCOS-102’s lead indication is mesothelioma, where the virus is currently being tested in a randomized phase I/II trial expected to report around new year 2019-20.