SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoSec
Medical Incorporated (OncoSec) (NASDAQ:ONCS), a company developing
intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, today announced that its
manuscript, "Improving therapeutic efficacy of IL-12 intratumoral
gene electrotransfer," has been published in Nature Gene
Therapy. The research, led by a team of OncoSec scientists,
evolves the company's current clinical EP platform to improve the
therapeutic efficacy of IL-12 intratumoral gene electrotransfer
through novel plasmid design and modified parameters.
"In cancer therapy, transforming an immunologically 'cold' tumor
to 'hot' offers the potential to treat a number of tumors and
cancer indications that are otherwise unfavorable to current
standards of care," said Dr. Christopher
Twitty, Chief Scientific Officer of OncoSec. "Our
ImmunoPulse® technology employs EP to enable the delivery of
DNA-based IL-12 directly into tumor cells, which reshapes the tumor
microenvironment leading to the generation of systemic, tumor
antigen-specific T cells. The research published in Nature Gene
Therapy highlights this capability and the potential for
improving the efficacy and anti-tumor response by optimizing key
components of the technology platform."
Researchers sought to improve the efficacy and systemic
anti-tumor response of OncoSec's clinical IT-pIL12-EP platform by
modifying in vivo electroporation conditions and enhancing
plasmid-derived IL-12p70 expression. The improved IL-12
therapeutic platform was evaluated in vitro and in
vivo using murine syngeneic tumor models. Findings show
that modifications to the electroporation parameters, including
lowering the electric field strength (low voltage) combined with a
longer pulse length, significantly increase the transfection
efficiency of intratumoral electroporation.
"With both preclinical models and clinical trials, EP has been
used to successfully deliver therapeutic genes via non-viral
vectors (gene electrotransfer) or to increase uptake of
chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor cells (electrochemotherapy),"
said Dr. David Canton, senior author
and Head of Research & Development at OncoSec. "The newly
developed IT-pIL12-P2A-EP platform marks a significant improvement
of our electroporation-based cancer immunotherapy."
To read the full article, please visit
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41434-018-0006-y.
About OncoSec Medical Incorporated
OncoSec is a
biotechnology 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 plasmid encoded IL-12
(tavokinogene telseplasmid or "tavo"). In Phase 1 and 2 clinical
trials, ImmunoPulse® IL-12 has demonstrated a favorable
safety profile, evidence of anti-tumor activity in the treatment of
various solid tumors, and the potential to reach beyond the site of
local treatment to initiate a systemic immune response. OncoSec's
lead program, ImmunoPulse IL-12, is currently in clinical
development for metastatic melanoma and triple-negative breast
cancer. The program's current focus is on the significant unmet
medical need in patients with melanoma who are refractory or have
relapsed on anti-PD-1 therapies. In addition to tavo, 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 "can," "may," "will," "suggest," "look
forward to," "potential," "understand," 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:
Stern Investor Relations
Will O'Connor
Phone: (212) 362-1200
will@sternir.com
Media Relations:
Janine McCargo / David Schemelia
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Phone: 212-827-0020
jmccargo@tiberend.com
dschemelia@tiberend.com
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SOURCE OncoSec Medical Incorporated