SAN DIEGO and PENNINGTON, N.J., Aug.
6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoSec Medical Incorporated
(OncoSec) (NASDAQ:ONCS), a company developing intratumoral cancer
immunotherapies, today announced that it has entered into a
research collaboration agreement with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on behalf of Roger S.
Lo, M.D., Ph.D. and his research team. Dr.
Roger S. Lo, Professor of Medicine
and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology in the UCLA David Geffen
School of Medicine, Associate Chief of Dermatology and a member of
the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, is a preeminent
physician-scientist widely recognized for his work in understanding
treatment-resistant melanoma.
Under the research collaboration, Dr. Lo and his research team
will perform genetic, transcriptomic and methylomic analyses of
patients in OncoSec's PISCES/KEYNOTE-695 Phase 2b clinical trial, which is evaluating TAVO
(tavokinogene telseplasmid) in combination with KEYTRUDA®
(pembrolizumab) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in
patients that have progress after receiving all available
treatments including anti PD-L1 checkpoint immunotherapy.
"UCLA and Dr. Lo represent an ideal
collaborator for OncoSec to augment our ongoing PISCES/KEYNOTE-695
Phase 2b clinical program with
specialized research designed to pinpoint the genetic and
epigenetic mechanisms that correspond to specific clinical outcomes
in the treatment of metastatic melanoma with TAVO in combination
with pembrolizumab," said Christopher G.
Twitty, Chief Scientific Officer of OncoSec. "The
PISCES/KEYNOTE-695 Phase 2b study
continues to progress as planned with enrollment in Stage 1
expected to be complete in the third quarter 2018 and topline data
anticipated prior to year-end. Our collaboration with Lo Lab has
the potential to not only offer important insights into the
mechanism of action of TAVO in combination with pembrolizumab for
the treatment of metastatic melanoma, but could be applicable
across our clinical pipeline, including the ongoing KEYNOTE-890
Phase 2b trial of TAVO in combination
with pembrolizumab in triple negative breast cancer."
Under Dr. Lo's direction, his research team focuses on genomic,
epigenomic and immunologic factors that shape the cancer's
evolution on molecularly targeted therapies and/or immune
checkpoint inhibitors. Dr. Lo's research has received funding
from the National Cancer Institute, American Skin Association,
Melanoma Research Alliance, The Melanoma Research Foundation,
Ressler Family Foundation, and Steven C. Gordon Family
Foundation.
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.
CONTACT
Investor Relations:
Stern Investor Relations
Will O'Connor
Phone: (212) 362-1200
will@sternir.com
Media Relations:
David Schemelia / Jason Rando
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Phone: 212-827-0020
dschemelia@tiberend.com
jrando@tiberend.com
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SOURCE OncoSec Medical Incorporated