OncoSec Medical and the University of Washington Enter Sponsored Research Agreement
November 20 2014 - 6:02AM
Business Wire
Research Will Evaluate Immunological Mechanisms
of Intratumoral DNA IL-12 Electroporation
OncoSec Medical Inc. (OTCQB: ONCS), a company developing
DNA-based intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, has entered a
Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA) with the University of
Washington to evaluate the immunologic mechanisms of intratumoral
DNA IL-12 electroporation.
Dr. I. Nicholas Crispe, MBBS, PhD, a professor in the Department
of Immunology at the University of Washington and an expert in
liver immunology and tolerance, will serve as the principal
investigator. Using a novel liver cell isolation approach, Dr.
Crispe has demonstrated that different types of liver cells have
the capacity to present antigens, which likely contributes to
hepatic immunosuppressive mechanisms. In this SRA, Dr. Crispe will
apply these techniques to the B16 melanoma tumor model to not only
better understand the systemic mechanisms of intratumoral DNA IL-12
electroporation (ImmunoPulse), but also to potentially identify
other molecular targets that might combine with IL-12 to enhance
immune response.
Dr. Robert H. Pierce, Chief Scientific Officer of OncoSec
Medical, said, “We are excited to embark on this project with Dr.
Crispe, who has tremendous expertise in mechanisms of immune
tolerance. We believe he will bring fresh insights into tumor
immuno-biology from his extensive knowledge of mechanisms of
pathogen-induced immuno-subversion.”
Dr. Crispe said, “We are focusing on taking the insights we have
learned from studies of the basic biology of immune tolerance, and
translating them directly to a model of human cancer. Although our
initial target is malignant melanoma, we believe it is likely that
data from these studies will be directly applicable to other
cancers.”
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a potent inflammatory cytokine that
regulates multiple aspects of the immune system; in particular, it
initiates both innate and adaptive immune responses. IL-12 is a key
driver of the cascade of biological events that 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 has shown in
clinical studies to elicit anti-tumor immune activity, which has
led not only to local tumor regression, but also to systemic
anti-tumor regression, while mitigating toxicities typically
observed with systemic administration of IL-12. Preliminary interim
data from OncoSec’s ongoing Phase II study in melanoma provide
evidence that local delivery of IL-12 by electroporation increases
the production of cytokines such as 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 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 an acceptable 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 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:OncoSec Medical Inc.Jordyn Kopin,
855-662-6732investors@oncosec.comorPublic Relations:Dian Griesel
Int’l.Laura Radocaj, 212-825-3210lradocaj@dgicomm.com
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