Targovax granted European Patent for mutant-RAS neoantigen platform lead products
Extends IP protection of TG01 and TG02 until 06.05.2034
Oslo, 17 January 2019: Targovax ASA (“Targovax” or “the Company”; OSE: TRVX), a clinical stage company focused on developing immuno-oncology therapies to target solid tumors, announces that the European Patent Office has granted European Patent no 3040320. The patent protects Targovax' mutant-RAS specific neoantigen peptides, mutant RAS specific T cells and vaccines TG01 and TG02, for the treatment of cancer in combination with chemotherapies.
Jon Amund Eriksen, special advisor and Co-founder of Targovax, said: "We are delighted that this European patent has been granted, further strengthening Targovax' intellectual property portfolio covering the very important mutant-RAS neoantigen and mutant-RAS specific T cells. The oncology market is ever expanding, with the immuno-oncology segment expected to see the largest growth in the coming years. Securing this patent protects our innovative mutant-RAS specific cancer immunotherapy platform and strengthens our market position for treatment of RAS-mutated cancers."
Targovax’ proprietary mutant-RAS neoantigen vaccine platform is designed to treat patients with tumors harboring RAS mutations. Mutations in the RAS genes are a driving cause of cancer development and progression and is linked to poor prognosis. By inducing an anti-mutant-RAS specific immune response, TG01 and TG02 have the potential to delay disease progression and increase survival, with a favorable safety profile compared to chemotherapy and many other treatment options.
In the recently completed Phase I/II clinical trial TG01-01 in resected pancreatic cancer with TG01 treatment in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine, immune response was seen in 94% (30/32) of patients. The median survival was 33.4 months in the first cohort of 19 patients and median survival of the second cohort of 13 is not yet reached. The median disease-free survival was 13.9 months in the first cohort and 19.5 months in the second cohort, comparing favorably with historical controls of patients treated with gemcitabine alone.
For further information, please contact:
Renate Birkeli, Investor Relations
Phone: +47 922 61 624
Email: renate.birkeli@targovax.com
Media and IR enquires:
Andreas Tinglum - Corporate Communications (Norway)
Phone: +47 9300 1773
Email: andreas.tinglum@corpcom.no
Simon Conway/Stephanie Cuthbert - FTI Consulting (International)
Phone: +44 20 3727 1000
Email: Targovax@fticonsulting.com
About Targovax
Activating the patient's immune system to fight cancer
Targovax (OSE:TRVX) is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing immune activators to target hard-to-treat solid tumors. Immuno-oncology is currently one of the fastest growing therapeutic fields in medicine.
Targovax’s lead product candidate, ONCOS-102, is a genetically modified oncolytic adenovirus, which has been engineered to selectively infect and replicate in cancer cells. It has been shown to activate the immune system to generate tumor-specific immune responses. In phase I trials, ONCOS-102 induced both local and systemic innate and adaptive immune activation, which has been associated with clinical benefit. ONCOS-102’s lead indication is mesothelioma, where the virus is currently being tested in a randomized phase II trial, with a phase Ib safety lead-in cohort. Another trial, in advanced melanoma, is expected to produce important proof of concept data for checkpoint inhibitor refractory patients.
Targovax is also developing a neo-antigen cancer vaccine targeting tumors that express mutated forms of RAS - mutations known to drive cancer. The TG vaccine program has shown a signal of efficacy compared to historical control in a 32-patient trial with TG01 in resected pancreatic cancer. A next generation product candidate, TG02 is currently tested as monotherapy and will also be tested in combination with KEYTRUDA® (an anti-PD1 check point inhibitor, CPI).