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2022-05-11 15:34:54
· Targovax and Agenus have entered into a clinical collaboration agreement for
the ONCOS-102 melanoma phase 2 multi-cohort trial
· ONCOS-102 will be tested in combination with the two checkpoint inhibitors
balstilimab (anti-PD1) and botensilimab (second generation anti-CTLA4) in
patients with anti-PD1 refractory malignant melanoma
Oslo, Norway, 11 May 2022 - Targovax ASA (OSE: TRVX), a clinical-stage immuno
-oncology company developing immune activators to target hard-to-treat solid
tumors, today announces that it has entered into a clinical collaboration and
supply agreement with Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ: AGEN) to combine Targovax's oncolytic
immunotherapy ONCOS-102 with two of AgenusŽ checkpoint inhibitors in a multi
-cohort phase 2 trial to treat anti-PD1 refractory malignant melanoma.
Targovax has previously reported a highly competitive 35% objective response
rate (ORR) for ONCOS-102 in a phase 1 trial in anti-PD1 refractory melanoma.
Importantly, deep translational analyses revealed broad and powerful ONCOS-102
-induced immune activation, which correlated with tumor responses and
demonstrated strong scientific evidence for additional combination treatments
beyond anti-PD1 blockade. Based on these encouraging clinical findings, Targovax
is preparing for a multi-cohort phase 2 trial to test ONCOS-102 with novel
immunotherapy combinations in a larger number of patients.
Agenus is an immuno-oncology company with an extensive pipeline of therapeutics
designed to activate immune response to cancers and infections. Agenus and
Targovax plan to test ONCOS-102 in combination with AgenusŽ two proprietary
checkpoint inhibitors, balstilimab and botensilimab. Balstilimab is an anti-PD1
blocking antibody currently in clinical development in several solid tumors.
Botensilimab is an Fc-enhanced anti-CTLA4 antibody that has shown promising
activity in early trials in several treatment-resistant solid tumors as
monotherapy and in combination with balstilimab.
Dr. Lone Ottesen, Chief Medical Officer of Targovax, said: "The excellent
efficacy, immune activation potency and safety profile of ONCOS-102 argues
strongly for moving into later stage development in combination with
complementary immunotherapies. Based on our clinical biomarker and genomic data,
we firmly believe we can further boost response rates in anti-PD1 refractory
melanoma patients with novel combinations. I am particularly excited about the
opportunity to work with AgenusŽ new anti-CTLA4 candidate botensilimab, which
has the potential to significantly improve on both efficacy and toxicity
compared to ipilimumab, as well as enhancing the systemic activity of ONCOS
-102."
Under the agreement, Targovax will be the sponsor and responsible for
operational execution of the combination trial, and Agenus will provide drug
supply and scientific support. Following demonstration of competitive clinical
efficacy in the planned phase 2 study, the parties intend to extend the
collaboration into a registrational development program.
Dr. Erik Digman Wiklund, Chief Executive Officer of Targovax ASA, added: "We are
thrilled to extend our existing relationship with Agenus. We were looking for a
collaboration partner with a portfolio of innovative, complementary
immunotherapies, and in Agenus we have found the perfect fit. Together, we will
test novel and differentiated combination treatments in melanoma with the goal
to achieve response rates beyond the already observed 35% ORR. We are confident
this will confirm ONCOS-102 as a leading candidate to address the growing unmet
medical need for immune activators that can effectively reverse resistance to
checkpoint inhibitor therapy."
For further information, please contact:
Erik Digman Wiklund, CEO
Phone: +47 413 33 536
Email: erik.wiklund@targovax.com
Renate Birkeli, Investor Relations
Phone: +47 922 61 624
Email: renate.birkeli@targovax.com
Media enquires:
Andreas Tinglum - Corporate Communications (Norway)
Phone: +47 9300 1773
Email: andreas.tinglum@corpcom.no
About Targovax
Activating the patient's immune system to fight cancer
Targovax (OSE:TRVX) is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing
immune activators to target hard-to-treat solid tumors. Targovax's focus is to
activate the patient's immune system to fight cancer, and thereby bring benefit
to cancer patients with few available treatment alternatives. Targovax is
assessing its product candidates in different cancer indications, including
melanoma, mesothelioma, and colorectal cancer, and has demonstrated a favorable
safety and tolerability profile.
Targovax's lead clinical candidate, ONCOS-102, is a genetically modified
oncolytic adenovirus, which has been engineered to selectively infect cancer
cells and activate the immune system to fight the cancer. On the back of very
encouraging clinical data in several indications, both as monotherapy and in
immunotherapy and chemotherapy combinations, the next development step for ONCOS
-102 will be to further improve immune activation and clinical response in
melanoma patients resistant to PD1 checkpoint blockade.
Building on successful phase 1/2 studies demonstrating clinical benefit and
providing deep mechanistic insights, Targovax is expanding its ONCOS program
into delivery of circular RNA and targeting KRAS mutant cancers with the aim of
establishing a platform for development of a rich pipeline of innovative future
immunotherapy product candidates.
About Agenus
Agenus is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on the discovery and
development of therapies that engage the body's immune system to fight cancer.
The Company's vision is to expand the patient populations benefiting from cancer
immunotherapy by pursuing combination approaches that leverage a broad
repertoire of antibody therapeutics, adoptive cell therapies (through its
subsidiary MiNK Therapeutics), adjuvants, and proprietary cancer vaccine
platforms. The Company is equipped with a suite of antibody discovery platforms
and a state-of-the-art GMP manufacturing facility with the capacity to support
clinical programs. Agenus is headquartered in Lexington, MA. For more
information, please visit www.agenusbio.com and our Twitter handle @agenus_bio.
Information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted on our
website and Twitter.
This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU
Market Abuse Regulation, and is subject to disclosure requirements pursuant to
Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The stock exchange
announcement was published by Renate Birkeli, Investor Relations, Targovax ASA.