Study Shows Successful Delivery in Brain
Cancer Patients and Reassuring Safety Profile
TORONTO and HOUSTON, TX, Oct. 10,
2017 /PRNewswire/ - Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.
("Medicenna" or "the Company") (TSX "MDNA"), a
clinical stage immuno-oncology company, announced that new clinical
data presented today at the 2017 Congress of Neurological Surgeons
("CNS") (Boston, MA), demonstrated
successful delivery in brain cancer patients and a reassuring
safety profile for MDNA55, the company's lead immunotherapeutic
agent targeting the interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R).
In the study MDNA55-05, investigators administer MDNA55 directly
into Glioblastoma ("GBM") brain tumors using a technique known as
Convection Enhanced Delivery ("CED"). CED allows precision
delivery of MDNA55 at high concentrations into the tumor tissue
while avoiding exposure to the rest of the body. The current Phase
2b clinical trial plans to enroll 52 adult patients with recurrent
GBM ("rGBM") at leading brain cancer centers in the US. A planned
review of the first treated patients was conducted to ensure
patient safety and to assess effectiveness of the CED
technique.
Senior investigator John H.
Sampson MD, PhD, of Duke
University Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery, who
presented the data at the CNS meeting stated, "Our initial analyses
show a substantially higher proportion of the target tissue being
covered than in previous similar trials. In some cases, close to
100% of the tumor and the 1cm margin around it (at risk for tumor
spread) has been successfully covered."
"Drug delivery to the brain has been a challenge and these
initial data are a significant advance in our attempt to safely and
efficiently deliver our targeted cancer immunotherapy agent
MDNA55," said Martin Bexon MD, Head of Clinical Development
for Medicenna. "Our initial experience has shown that it is
possible to accurately deliver the volumes at high flow rates
necessary for distribution of MDNA55 in and around the tumor. This
was achieved with a reassuring safety profile, such that our safety
committee recommended continuation of the study." Dr. Bexon went on
to praise the study's investigators, "I must pay tribute to the
high level of skill demonstrated by the neurosurgeons working on
this study using leading edge techniques to give their patients the
best possible chance of benefitting from MDNA55."
The study was designed to analyze the clinical outcomes of
patients treated with MDNA55, which selectively targets cells
expressing the IL4-R both in glioblastoma tumor cells and in
immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. The study is
ongoing and the abstract of the presentation is available here.
About Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.
Medicenna is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing
novel highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines™
and first in class Empowered Cytokines™ (ECs). Its wholly owned
subsidiary, Houston-based Medicenna BioPharma, is specifically
targeting the Interleukin-4 Receptor (IL4R), which is
over-expressed by at least 20 different types of cancer affecting
more than one million new cancer patients every year. Medicenna's
lead IL4-EC, MDNA55 is enrolling patients in a Phase 2b clinical
trial for rGB at leading brain cancer centres in the US. MDNA55 has
completed 3 clinical trials in 72 patients, including 66 adults
with rGB, demonstrated compelling efficacy and obtained Fast-Track
and Orphan Drug status from USFDA. Unlike most other cancer
therapies, Medicenna's IL4-ECs have the potential to purge both the
tumor and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, offering a
unique treatment paradigm for a large majority of cancer
patients.
For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements
relating to the future operations of the Company and other
statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking
statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may",
"should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All
statements other than statements of historical fact, included in
this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding
future plans and objectives of the Company, statements related to
drug delivery and tumor coverage as well as other statements
related to the ongoing status of the Phase 2b clinical trial of
MDNA55 for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma and others are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate and actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
the Company's expectations include the risks detailed in the annual
information form of the Company dated June
15, 2017 and in other filings made by the Company with the
applicable securities regulators from time to time.
The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the
preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be
incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to
differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of
which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is
cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking
information. Such information, although considered reasonable by
management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect
and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.
Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are
expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made
as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or
revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only
as expressly required by Canadian securities law.
SOURCE Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.