SAN DIEGO, Sept. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoSec Medical
Incorporated ("OncoSec") (NASDAQ: ONCS), a company developing
DNA-based intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, today presented
recent advancements in the field of electroporation (EP) and the
future of catheter-based devices to perform minimally invasive
intratumoral immunotherapy treatment at the First World Congress on
Electroporation and Pulsed Electric Fields in Biology, Medicine and
Food & Environmental Technologies in Portoroz,
Slovenia.
In a keynote presentation entitled: "Advances in Clinical
Electroporation: Tissue Sensing, Feedback Control, and Catheter
Technology," Robert H. Pierce, MD,
Chief Scientific Officer, discussed OncoSec's advances in
intratumoral gene electro-transfer, using 'smart' tissue-sensing
technology and the development of catheter-based electrodes,
enabling treatment of deep and visceral tumors.
"We are excited to be presenting our engineering advances at the
First World Congress," said Dr. Pierce. "The development of
minimally-invasive electroporation devices capable of
high-efficiency delivery of immunotherapeutic genes into tumors
located anywhere in the body is critical to establishing
intratumoral EP-mediated gene therapy as a standard therapeutic
modality in immuno-oncology."
OncoSec's New Catheter Electrode Technology
OncoSec's new catheter-based electrodes are designed to be
compatible with standard medical instrumentation, allowing access
to deep and visceral tumors, where they are capable of anchoring to
and treating the tumor using OncoSec's proprietary technology.
These all-in-one devices have the ability to inject a DNA-based
agent, while deploying electrodes to perform electroporation in a
single procedure. Moreover, these devices have an adjustable needle
and electrode penetration depth allowing clinicians to treat tumors
of varying dimensions to perform minimally invasive intratumoral
immunotherapy.
Development of Tissue Sensing and Feedback Control
OncoSec is developing 'smart' electroporation technology capable
of tissue sensing and real-time feedback control of electroporation
pulse trains in order to attain optimal gene transfer and minimal
electroporation-mediated tissue damage. Dr. Pierce added: "Taken
together, these engineering advances can enable access and
high-efficiency gene delivery to tumors throughout the body. This
is key as we move forward in developing OncoSec's pipeline of novel
intratumoral therapies."
"Our partnership with Rev.1 Engineering and internal
bioengineering expertise have allowed OncoSec to enhance our
ImmunoPulse™ platform and position the Company as a
leader in gene electro-transfer technologies in cancer
immunotherapy," said Punit Dhillon,
President and CEO of OncoSec. "We are also strengthening our
intellectual property portfolio in the area of gene and drug
delivery via electroporation to reach visceral tumors and enhance
the uptake of therapeutic agents."
Licensing of University of South
Florida Catheter Electrode Patent
OncoSec secured an exclusive license for a specific patented
technology from the University of South
Florida Research Foundation (USFRF). The patent provides a
device and related methods to deliver molecules to cells that
comprise any tissue. The patent includes a catheter-based electrode
and methods to deliver molecules to cardiac tissue, blood vessels,
other tissues/organs that can be accessed through a luminal tissue
and luminal tissues. The device also functions as a non-catheter
based electrode for performing the same functions. Financial terms
of this agreement were not disclosed.
For more information about OncoSec and its technologies, please
visit: www.oncosec.com.
About OncoSec Medical Incorporated
OncoSec is a biopharmaceutical company developing DNA-based
intratumoral immunotherapies with an investigational technology,
ImmunoPulse™, for the treatment of cancer. ImmunoPulse™ is
designed to enhance the local delivery and uptake of DNA-based
immune-targeting agents, such as IL-12. In Phase I and II clinical
trials, ImmunoPulse™ IL-12 has demonstrated a favorable safety
profile and evidence of anti-tumor activity in the treatment of
various skin cancers as well as the potential to initiate a
systemic immune response. OncoSec's lead program, ImmunoPulse™
IL-12, is currently in Phase II development for several
indications, including metastatic melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma
of the head and neck (HNSCC), and triple-negative breast cancer
(TNBC). In addition to ImmunoPulse™ IL-12, the company is also
identifying and developing new immune-targeting agents for use with
the ImmunoPulse™ platform. For more information, please visit
www.oncosec.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words
such as "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "can," "expect,"
"future," "may," "should," "will," and similar references to future
periods.
Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor
assurances of future performance. Instead, they 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.
Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ from those predicted include, among others, the
following: uncertainties inherent in pre-clinical studies and
clinical trials, such as the ability to enroll patients in clinical
trials and the risk of adverse events; unexpected new data,
safety and technical issues; our ability to raise additional
funding necessary to fund continued operations; and the other
factors discussed in OncoSec'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
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.
CONTACT:
Investor Relations:
Jordyn Kopin
OncoSec Medical Incorporated
855-662-6732
investors@oncosec.com
Media Relations:
Mary Marolla
OncoSec Medical Incorporated
855-662-6732
media@oncosec.com
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SOURCE OncoSec Medical Incorporated