OncoSec Medical and Plexxikon Collaborate to Explore Combination Immunotherapy in Preclinical Tumor Studies
November 18 2014 - 6:03AM
Business Wire
OncoSec to Test a Plexxikon CSF-1R Inhibitor in
Combination with Intratumoral Electroporation of IL-12
OncoSec Medical Inc. (OTCQB: ONCS), a company developing
DNA-based intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, today announced a
preclinical collaboration with Plexxikon Inc., a member of the
Daiichi Sankyo Group and leader in the discovery and development of
novel small molecule pharmaceuticals, to test the combination of
Plexxikon’s selective CSF-1R inhibitor with OncoSec’s Immunopulse
pIL-12.
OncoSec’s Chief Scientific Officer, Robert H. Pierce, M.D.,
said: “Plexxikon is on the cutting edge of developing potent,
highly-selective small molecule inhibitors of CSF-1R, a key cell
surface receptor, which controls macrophage development and
function. Intratumoral macrophages and other related cell types,
like myeloid-derived suppressor cells, can be strongly
immunosuppressive and block anti-tumor immunity. Given our
understanding of IL-12 as a potent driver of immunogenicity and
tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the potential role of
tumor-resident myeloid cells in suppressing the anti-tumor effects
of TILs, we hypothesize that blocking CSF-1R with Plexxikon’s
selective CSF-1R inhibitor will lead to synergistic effects in the
syngeneic B16.F10 melanoma mouse model.”
Mai H. Le, M.D., OncoSec’s Chief Medical Officer, commented:
“Combination immune therapies, whether small molecules or
biologics, will be the norm in the future. There is already
considerable discussion in the oncology community regarding the
need to find a rational approach to guide immune-focused
combinations in the clinic. These initial studies are designed to
test the rationale of our combination approach.”
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is an inflammatory cytokine that is
believed to be a master regulator of the immune system, and is
important in the up-regulation of both the innate and adaptive
immune responses. IL-12 is a key driver of the cascade of
biological events which ultimately lead to T-cell-specific killing
of cancer cells. Moreover, cytokines and chemokines induced by this
pathway also increase the recruitment of inflammatory T-cells into
tumors.
ImmunoPulse is a proprietary investigational electroporation
device that delivers plasmid IL-12 DNA directly into tumors. By
locally delivering and expressing IL-12, ImmunoPulse drives a
strong anti-tumor immune response, which can lead not only to local
tumor regression, but also systemic anti-tumor responses, while
avoiding toxicities caused by systemic administration of IL-12.
Recent interim data from OncoSec’s ongoing Phase II clinical study
in melanoma have demonstrated that local delivery of IL-12 by
electroporation increases the production of cytokines like IFN-γ,
resulting in increased expression of genes related to the processes
required for cytotoxic CD8+ T cells to recognize and kill cancer
cells.
About PLX’s highly-specific small molecule inhibitors of
CSF-1R
Plexxikon is currently exploring the role of CSF-1R-targeted
immune therapy as a sensitizer to chemo- and radiation-therapy, in
addition to its potential to augment response to complementary
immunotherapies.
About OncoSec Medical
OncoSec Medical Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing
its investigational ImmunoPulse intratumoral cancer immunotherapy.
OncoSec Medical's core technology is designed to
enhance the local delivery and uptake of DNA IL-12 and
other DNA-based immune-targeting agents. Clinical studies of
ImmunoPulse have demonstrated a favorable safety profile and
preliminary evidence of anti-tumor activity in the treatment of
various skin cancers, as well as the potential to initiate a
systemic immune response without the systemic toxicities associated
with other treatments. OncoSec's lead clinical program evaluating
ImmunoPulse for the treatment of metastatic melanoma is currently
in Phase 2 development, and is being conducted in collaboration
with several prominent academic medical centers. As the company
continues to evaluate ImmunoPulse in its current indications, it is
also focused on identifying and developing new immune-targeting
agents, investigating additional tumor indications, and evaluating
combination-based immunotherapy approaches. For more information,
please visit www.oncosec.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts
may be considered such “forward-looking statements.”
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current
preliminary expectations and are subject to risks and
uncertainties, which may cause our results to differ materially and
adversely from the statements contained herein. Some of the
potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ from those predicted include our ability to raise
additional funding, our ability to acquire, develop or
commercialize new products, uncertainties inherent in pre-clinical
studies and clinical trials, unexpected new data, safety and
technical issues, competition, and market conditions. These and
additional risks and uncertainties are more fully described in
OncoSec Medical’s filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. OncoSec
Medical disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances
after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
Investor Relations:Jordyn KopinOncoSec Medical
Inc.855-662-6732investors@oncosec.comorPublic Relations:Laura
RadocajDian Griesel, Int’l.212-825-3210lradocaj@dgicomm.com
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