SAN DIEGO, and PENNINGTON, N.J., June
17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoSec Medical Incorporated
(OncoSec) (NASDAQ: ONCS), a company developing intratumoral cancer
immunotherapies, today announced that it has initiated a research
collaboration with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to
evaluate the use of Roswell Park's intravital microscopy (IVM) and
OncoSec's proprietary plasmid, TAVOPLUS, in combination
with the Company's recently announced APOLLO™ electroporation
generator in preclinical studies. The collaboration will be
led by Joseph Skitzki, MD, FACS,
Associate Professor of Immunology, Associate Professor of Surgery
and Chair of the Melanoma/Sarcoma Disease Site Research Group at
Roswell Park.
Intravital microscopy is a powerful tool that has provided
unprecedented real time access to visualize and record molecular,
cellular, anatomical function, providing insights into the immune
activity within the tumor microenvironment. Data uncovered with the
technique used in this collaboration will reveal a deeper
understanding and possible new approaches to treatment with
TAVOPLUS and APOLLO™.
Dr. Skitzki's laboratory plans to focus on IVM studies which
provide an in vivo window to visualize and record movements of
immune subsets in the periphery or, critically, in established
tumors. This collaboration will investigate essential elements of
lymphocyte trafficking driven by OncoSec's enhanced therapeutic
platform, including the new low-voltage APOLLO generator and
TAVOPLUS plasmids. In addition to investigating
the effects of chemokine gradients on rolling/adhesion of specific
immune subsets, the laboratory will conduct time-course experiments
to determine the associated kinetics of this therapy. The Skitzki
laboratory will also perform translational studies to address
whether neo-vascularization or changes to vascularization can be
used to predict response.
"This research collaboration offers a significant opportunity to
leverage cutting edge experimental techniques to gain a deeper
mechanistic understanding of how OncoSec's newest therapy drives
lymphocyte trafficking into the tumor. We are particularly pleased
to be working with Dr. Skitzki and with Roswell Park, a renowned
research organization, and look forward to the critical data and
related intellectual property that will emerge from this work,"
said Christopher G. Twitty, PhD,
Chief Scientific Officer of OncoSec.
Dr. Skitzki specializes in the areas of melanoma and sarcoma,
with a focus on intratumoral and regional therapies. His
independent lab focuses on immunotherapies for melanoma and
preclinical modeling of TAVOPLUS and APOLLO™ with the
goal of clinical translation. Dr. Skitzki has authored or
co-authored more than 50 journal publications, book chapters and
abstracts.
"Based upon a significant body of clinical data, our lead
oncology product candidate, TAVO, has distinguished itself by
clearly showing an ability to induce T cell activation both within
local (treated) and distant (untreated) tumor microenvironments,
leading to the positive response data observed across several solid
tumor types. The Roswell Park collaboration will enable OncoSec to
further characterize the TAVOPLUS immune response and
its impact on local and distant tumors, thereby imparting a fuller
understanding of its clinical utility in the treatment of cancer,"
said Daniel J. O'Connor, President
and Chief Executive Officer of OncoSec.
About OncoSec Medical Incorporated
OncoSec is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on
developing cytokine-based intratumoral immunotherapies to stimulate
the body's immune system to target and attack cancer.
OncoSec's lead immunotherapy investigational product candidate –
TAVO™ (tavokinogene telseplasmid) – enables the intratumoral
delivery of DNA-based interleukin-12 (IL-12), a naturally occurring
protein with immune-stimulating functions. The technology,
which employs electroporation, is designed to produce a controlled,
localized expression of IL-12 in the tumor microenvironment,
enabling the immune system to target and attack tumors throughout
the body. OncoSec has built a deep and diverse clinical
pipeline utilizing TAVO™ as a potential treatment for multiple
cancer indications either as a monotherapy or in combination with
leading checkpoint inhibitors; with the latter potentially enabling
OncoSec to address a great unmet medical need in oncology:
anti-PD-1 non-responders. Results from recently completed
clinical studies of TAVO™ have demonstrated a local immune
response, and subsequently, a systemic effect as either a
monotherapy or combination treatment approach. In addition to
TAVO™, OncoSec is identifying and developing new DNA-encoded
therapeutic candidates and tumor indications for use with its new
Visceral Lesion Applicator (VLA), to target deep visceral lesions,
such as liver, lung or pancreatic lesions. For more information,
please visit www.oncosec.com.
TAVO™ trademark of OncoSec Medical Incorporated.
CONTACT
Investor Relations:
Will O'Connor
Stern Investor Relations
(212) 362-1200
will@sternir.com
Media Relations:
Katie Dodge
JPA Health Communications
(617) 657-1304
kdodge@jpa.com
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SOURCE OncoSec Medical Incorporated