Oncorus, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCR), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical
company developing next-generation viral immunotherapies to
transform outcomes for cancer patients, today announced the
appointment of Eric Rubin, M.D. to its Board of Directors. Dr.
Rubin brings to Oncorus an expansive 30-year academic and industry
career in cancer drug development, including his oncology
leadership roles at Merck, known as MSD outside of the United
States and Canada, where he currently serves as Senior Vice
President of Global Clinical Oncology. As previously announced, the
terms of Robert Kirkman, M.D. and Cameron Wheeler, Ph.D. as members
of Oncorus’ Board of Directors ended upon the conclusion of the
company’s annual meeting of stockholders held on June 16, 2021.
“We are thrilled to welcome Eric to our Board as we progress our
pipeline of viral immunotherapies engineered for systemic
activity,” said Theodore (Ted) Ashburn, M.D., Ph.D., President and
CEO of Oncorus. “We look forward to the initial readout later this
year from our ongoing Phase 1 clinical study of ONCR-177, our lead
oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus (oHSV) candidate, and we are
continuing to advance our recently nominated novel Synthetic viral
RNA (vRNA) Immunotherapy candidates toward the clinic. Eric’s
contributions to the oncology field, including his pioneering work
at Merck in immuno-oncology, has truly helped transform the care of
cancer patients. We look forward to his insights and guidance as we
work with urgency to realize the full potential of viral
immunotherapies for cancer patients.”
Dr. Ashburn continued, “On behalf of the entire Oncorus team, I
would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Bob and Cam for
their service on and many contributions to our Board and our
company.”
Oncorus is advancing a portfolio of intratumorally (iTu)- and
intravenously (IV)-administered viral immunotherapies for multiple
solid tumor indications with significant unmet needs based on its
oHSV and Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy Platforms. Oncorus is
currently conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of ONCR-177, an
iTu-administered oHSV viral immunotherapy, for the treatment of
solid tumors, both as a monotherapy and in combination with Merck’s
anti-PD-1-therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab). ONCR-177 uniquely
retains the ability to avoid interferon challenge and is armed with
five immune-modulatory payloads. With its lead IV-administered
Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy candidates, ONCR-021 and ONCR-788,
Oncorus’ pioneering IV-administered approach involves encapsulating
the genomes of RNA viruses known to kill cancer cells (i.e.,
oncolytic viruses, or OVs) in a lipid nanoparticle, or LNP,
creating a Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy. ONCR-021 encodes an
optimized strain of Coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21), and ONCR-788
encodes a modified version of the Seneca Valley Virus (SVV).
“Despite the remarkable progress we’ve made against certain
cancers, there is still a great deal of work ahead of us to help
more cancer patients and save more lives,” said Dr. Rubin. “Viral
immunotherapies hold significant promise to be an important
immuno-oncology tool that enables us to treat many types of cancer
more effectively. However, their potential has been limited thus
far by certain challenges. Oncorus has engineered highly innovative
technologies into both of its platforms, which may enable the
oncolytic virus modality to finally achieve its cancer-fighting and
life-saving potential for patients. I look forward to collaborating
with Ted and the Oncorus team on this important work.”
Beginning his oncology career in academia, Dr. Rubin served as a
faculty member at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and then as a
senior leader of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, where he was
Director of the Investigational Therapeutics Division. His research
efforts focused on mechanisms of resistance to DNA
topoisomerase-targeting drugs and his laboratory cloned TOPORS, a
novel topoisomerase I- and p53-interacting tumor suppressor gene.
In 2008, Dr. Rubin was recruited to Merck to lead the clinical
oncology development team. Under his leadership, the clinical
oncology group underwent a transformational change to realize the
potential of cancer immunotherapy. He led the initial development
of the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®), which was the
first anti-PD-1 therapy approved in the U.S., and in the
identification of the significant activity of this breakthrough
therapeutic across several cancer types. In 2014, Dr. Rubin was
asked to head up Oncology Early Development for Merck, and in this
role he oversees development of a promising and expansive early
pipeline, as well as translational oncology research
activities.
Dr. Rubin has authored over 100 original, peer-reviewed
publications and book chapters related to oncology translational
research, clinical trials, and drug development. He has served
frequently as a member of National Cancer Institute and American
Cancer Society study sections, as well as on program committees for
the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) and the American
Society of Clinical Oncology. He is a co-chair of the Cancer
Steering Committee of the Biomarkers Consortium, Foundation of the
National Institute of Health, a member of the Science Policy and
Governmental Affairs Committee for AACR, and was a member of the
National Cancer Moonshot Initiative/Blue Ribbon Panel Working Group
on Expanding Clinical Trials.
Upcoming Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy Investor
Event
Oncorus will host a virtual investor event on Monday, June 21,
2021 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm ET to discuss details surrounding its
Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy Platform and its lead Synthetic vRNA
Immotherapy clinical candidates, ONCR-021 and ONCR-788. Leena
Ghandi, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Cancer Therapeutic
Innovation at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will be a featured
speaker. For more information or to RSVP for the event, please
contact Josh Rauch at jrauch@soleburytrout.com.
Click here to read a white paper published by Oncorus’
leadership on the company’s Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy Platform
and lead candidates, ONCR-021 and ONCR-788. Click here to read
Oncorus’ press release announcing its recent nomination of ONCR-021
and ONCR-788.
About Oncorus
At Oncorus, we are focused on driving innovation to deliver
next-generation viral immunotherapies to transform outcomes for
cancer patients. We are advancing a portfolio of intratumorally
(iTu) and intravenously (IV) administered viral immunotherapies for
multiple indications with significant unmet need based on our
oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus (oHSV) and Synthetic viral RNA
(vRNA) Immunotherapy Platforms.
Designed to deliver next-generation viral immunotherapy impact,
our oHSV platform improves upon key characteristics of this
therapeutic class to enhance systemic activity. Our lead oHSV
program, ONCR-177, is designed to be directly administered into a
tumor, resulting in high local concentrations of the therapeutic
agent and its five encoded transgenes, as well as low systemic
exposure to the therapy, which we believe could potentially limit
systemic toxicities. Our pioneering Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy
Platform involves a highly innovative, novel combination of RNA-
and oncolytic virus-based modalities to realize the potential of
RNA medicines for cancer. Our lead IV-administered Synthetic vRNA
clinical candidates, ONCR-021 and ONCR-788, are both currently in
IND-enabling studies.
Please visit www.oncorus.com to learn more.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and
express statements regarding the evolving immuno-oncology
landscape, the potential of Oncorus’ Synthetic vRNA Immunotherapy
Platform; preclinical and clinical development of ONCR-021 and
ONCR-788, including expectations regarding timelines for filing
INDs, as well as the product candidates’ therapeutic potential and
clinical benefits, mechanism of action and the utility; and
expectations regarding manufacturing capabilities, including the
buildout timeline of Oncorus’ viral immunotherapy clinical
manufacturing facility. The words "may," “might,” "will," "could,"
"would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend,"
"believe," “expect,” "estimate," “seek,” "predict," “future,”
"project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar words or
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain these
identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press
release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs
and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important
factors that may cause actual events or results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking
statements contained in this press release, including, without
limitation, risks associated with: the impact of COVID-19 on
Oncorus’ operations and the timing and anticipated results of its
ongoing and planned clinical trials; the risk that the results of
preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of
future results in connection with future clinical trials; Oncorus’
ability to successfully demonstrate the safety and efficacy of
ONCR-021 and ONCR-788; Oncorus’ ability to secure adequate
quantities of viral immunotherapies manufactured in accordance with
regulatory requirements; the expansion of Oncorus’ in-house
manufacturing capabilities; the adequacy of Oncorus’ cash resources
and availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms; and
Oncorus’ ability to obtain, maintain and protect its intellectual
property. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in
greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Oncorus’
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on March 10, 2021, as well as discussions of
potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in the
other filings that Oncorus makes with the Securities
and Exchange Commission from time to time. These documents are
available under the “SEC filings” page of the Investors section of
Oncorus’ website at http://investors.oncorus.com. Any
forward-looking statements represent Oncorus’ views only as of the
date of this press release and should not be relied upon as
representing its views as of any subsequent
date. Oncorus explicitly disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. No representations or
warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of
any such forward-looking statements.
Investor Contact: |
Media Contact: |
Alan Lada |
Liz Melone |
Solebury Trout |
liz.melone@oncorus.com |
617-221-8006 |
|
alada@soleburytrout.com |
|
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