SAN DIEGO, May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoSec Medical
Incorporated (OncoSec) (NASDAQ:ONCS), a company developing
intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, has entered a clinical trial
collaboration and supply agreement with Merck (known as MSD outside
the United States and Canada) to evaluate the combination of
OncoSec's ImmunoPulse® IL-12 with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in a Phase II clinical trial. The planned
clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the
combination in patients with inoperable locally advanced or
metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have previously
failed at least one systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
"We are pleased to initiate a second clinical trial
collaboration with Merck – one of the world's leading
immuno-oncology companies – in late stage TNBC, a disease which has
few treatment options," said Daniel J.
O'Connor, Chief Executive Officer of OncoSec. "This
collaboration is another example of OncoSec's strategy to work with
innovative immuno-oncology leaders, combining our ImmunoPulse®
IL-12 program with checkpoint inhibitor therapies to advance the
care of patients."
Eligible patients for this Phase II study will be those with
TNBC who have inoperable locally advanced or metastatic disease and
progressed on at least one previous treatment of systemic
chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Under the collaboration agreement,
OncoSec will sponsor and fund the study and Merck will provide
KEYTRUDA. Additional details of the collaboration were not
disclosed.
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.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme
Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
ImmunoPulse® is a registered trademark of OncoSec Medical
Incorporated, San Diego, CA,
USA.
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