HOOKIPA Pharma’s LCMV-based Immunotherapy for HPV16+ Cancers Demonstrates High Immunogenicity, According to Peer Reviewed A...
September 16 2020 - 7:45AM
HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK, ‘HOOKIPA’), a company developing
a new class of immunotherapeutics targeting infectious diseases and
cancers based on its proprietary arenavirus platform, today
announced a publication in the peer reviewed, open access journal
OncoImmunology of a paper on HB-201, an arenavirus vector-based
immunotherapy for Human Papillomavirus 16-positive (HPV16+) cancers
currently in clinical trials.
The paper shows that systemically administered
HB-201 leads to:
- Dose-dependent induction of a robust, systemic cytotoxic T cell
response directed against HPV16 proteins;
- Tumor infiltration of HPV16 specific cytotoxic T cells;
and
- Significantly delayed tumor growth or complete tumor clearance
accompanied with prolonged survival.
Mice that have cleared tumors post-HB-201
administration developed long-term protection, as demonstrated by
the rejection of re-administered tumors. Furthermore, the
combination of HB-201 with a checkpoint inhibitor (a-PD-1)
increased the anti-tumor efficacy, with more than 77% of treated
mice clearing established tumors.
HB-201 is one of HOOKIPA’s lead oncology
candidates. It targets HPV16 E6/E7 and is based on the Company’s
replicating LCMV (TheraT®) arenaviral vector platform. It is
currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials (NCT04180215) for HPV16+
cancers alone and in combination with an approved checkpoint
inhibitor.
“HPV-associated cancers, especially head and
neck cancers, remain a significant health concern, as no curative
therapies are currently available. We are very pleased that these
results suggest that the HB-201 program can be a promising therapy
for HPV+ cancers,” said Igor Matushansky, MD, PhD, HOOKIPA’s Chief
Medical Officer and Global Head of Research and Development.
Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is estimated to
cause about 5% of the worldwide burden of cancers. This includes
approximately 99% of cases in cervical, up to 60% of head and neck,
70% of vaginal and 88% of anal cancers.
The majority of these cancers are caused by the
HPV serotype 16. Most infections with HPV are cleared from the body
with no lasting consequences. However, in some cases, HPV DNA
becomes integrated into chromosomal DNA. When host cells take up
this DNA, they express the HPV E6 and E7 proteins. This uptake can
potentially lead to cancer since expression of these proteins leads
to alterations in cell cycle control, which in turn predisposes
these cells to become cancerous. The publication, “Live-attenuated
lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-based vaccines for active
immunotherapy of HPV16-positive cancer”, is available online in
OncoImmunology.
About
HOOKIPAHOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK) is a clinical
stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of
immunotherapeutics targeting infectious diseases and cancers based
on its proprietary arenavirus platform that reprograms the body’s
immune system.
HOOKIPA’s proprietary arenavirus-based
technologies, non-replicating (VaxWave®) and replicating (TheraT®),
induce robust antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and
pathogen-neutralizing antibodies. HOOKIPA’s “off-the-shelf” viral
vectors target antigen presenting cells in vivo to activate the
immune system. Both technologies enable repeat administration to
augment and refresh immune responses. As a monotherapy, our
replicating arenavirus technology has the potential to induce
CD8+ T cell response levels previously not achieved by other
immuno-therapy approaches.
HOOKIPA’s non-replicating prophylactic
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate is currently in a Phase 2
clinical trial for patients awaiting kidney transplantation. To
expand its infectious disease portfolio, HOOKIPA entered into a
collaboration and licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. to
research arenavirus-based functional cures for HIV and chronic
Hepatitis B infections.
In addition, HOOKIPA is building a proprietary
immuno-oncology pipeline by targeting virally mediated cancer
antigens, self-antigens and next-generation antigens. The lead
replicating arenavirus oncology product candidates, HB-201 and
HB-202, are in development for the treatment of Human Papilloma
Virus 16-positive cancers. The Phase 1/2 clinical trial for HB-201
was initiated in December 2019. The HB-202 IND application was
cleared by the FDA in June 2020.
Find out more about HOOKIPA online
at www.hookipapharma.com.
HOOKIPA Forward Looking
Statements
Certain statements set forth in this press
release constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as
amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such
as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” or similar
expressions and the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking
statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could
cause HOOKIPA’s research and clinical development programs, future
results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from
those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties
inherent in the drug development process, including HOOKIPA’s
programs’ early stage of development, the process of designing and
conducting preclinical and clinical trials, the regulatory approval
processes, the timing of regulatory filings, the challenges
associated with manufacturing drug products, HOOKIPA’s ability to
successfully establish, protect and defend its intellectual
property, risks relating to business interruptions resulting from
the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak or similar public
health crises, the impact of COVID-19 on the enrollment of patients
and timing of clinical results for HB-101 and other programs, and
other matters that could affect the sufficiency of existing cash to
fund operations and HOOKIPA’s ability to achieve the milestones
under the agreement with Gilead. HOOKIPA undertakes no obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further
description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking
statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the
company in general, see HOOKIPA’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended June 30, 2020 which is available on the Security
and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and HOOKIPA’s
website at www.hookipapharma.com.
Investors and others should note that we
announce material financial information to our investors using our
investor relations website (https://ir.hookipapharma.com/), SEC
filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. We
use these channels, as well as social media, to communicate with
our members and the public about our company, our services and
other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social
media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, we
encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our
company to review the information we post on the U.S. social media
channels listed on our investor relations website.
For further information, please contact: |
|
Media |
Investors |
Nina Waibel |
Matt Beck |
Senior Director - Communications |
Executive Director - Investor Relations |
nina.waibel@hookipapharma.com |
matthew.beck@hookipapharma.com |
|
|
Media enquiries |
|
Instinctif Partners |
|
hookipa@instinctif.com |
|
+44 (0)20 7457 2020 |
|
HOOKIPA Pharma (NASDAQ:HOOK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
HOOKIPA Pharma (NASDAQ:HOOK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024