OSLO, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Immunotherapy specialist Targovax today announce that promising Phase I results of its RAS mutation-targeted cancer medicine TG01 in combination with chemotherapy for surgically resected pancreatic cancer, have triggered a $2M (12.5 MNOK) milestone from current owners. RAS specific immune responses were induced in all 6 patients in Phase I, and no substantial TG01 related toxicity was observed in the patients.
Gustav Gaudernack, Professor Emeritus at Oslo University Hospital, and one of the inventors behind the technology, states: “I have great expectations for the principle of treating patients with peptide based immunotherapy, which educates the patients’ immune system to fight cancer. It is exciting that the TG01 project has reached this important milestone in combination with chemotherapy”.
The clinical trial has now formally entered Phase IIa, and the trial is expanding from Norway to two sites in UK, namely the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, and the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool.
UK Principal Investigator Professor Daniel Palmer said: " vaccination targeting RAS mutations is an extremely promising area of research and with our considerable experience in conducting multicentre immunotherapy trials, we are looking forward to help expand Targovax's TG01 trial into Phase IIa."
CEO Hanne Mette Kristensen commented: “Through this important milestone, we have significantly reduced risk in TG01 development by confirming observations of specific immune response and patient safety for the patients. This is very encouraging. We will continue to work towards confirming the link between TG01 treatment and effect on survival for these patients. We are delighted that the two UK sites are now participatng in the clinical trial – we see this as a mark of quality. ”
Targovax’ RAS specific immunotherapy triggers both cytotoxic- and helper T-cell- immune responses, educating the patients’ immune system to recognize and kill the cancer cells.
New IPR has been established as a basis for expanding the company’s pipeline to broader indications.
“Based on these results, Targovax is now focused on completing the ongoing Phase IIa study with TG01 in surgically resected cancer. In addition, the company is initiating preparations for a randomized Phase II, and completing a Phase I trial with TG02 in larger indications such as colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC),” concludes Kristensen.
