PDS Biotech Announces Preliminary Efficacy Achievement in VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 Trial of PDS0101 in Combination With KEYTRUDA in Advanced Head & Neck Cancer

PDS Biotechnology Corporation recently announced its VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 study for the treatment of advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancer achieved its preliminary objective response benchmarks. The trial, which studies PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), will now progress to full enrollment of 54 patients in this group of checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) naïve patients. As pre-specified in the clinical trial design, the achievement of an objective response as measured by radiographic tumor responses according to RECIST 1.1 (tumor reduction of 30% or more) confirmed by two separate measurements among at least four or more of the first 17 patients in the CPI naïve arm allows that arm to progress to full enrollment. We anticipate these data will be presented in more detail at an upcoming medical conference.

VERSATILE-002, being conducted in collaboration with Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada), is being studied in two groups of HPV16-positive head and neck cancer patients whose cancer has returned or spread. The first group have not been previously treated with a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI naïve). An initial assessment of the combination in a second group of 21 patients who have failed prior therapy with checkpoint inhibitors (CPI refractory) is ongoing.

“The achievement of this important milestone in the VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 clinical trial strengthens the evidence of our novel Versamune platform’s potential ability to induce high levels of tumor-specific CD8+ killer T-cells that attack the cancer to achieve tumor regression,” commented Dr. Lauren V. Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. “The initial data solidifies our belief that PDS0101’s demonstrated preclinical efficacy when combined with KEYTRUDA has the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients with advanced HPV16-positive head and neck cancers.”

Dr. Jared Weiss, Section Chief of Thoracic and Head and Neck Oncology at the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, is serving as the Lead Principal Investigator of VERSATILE-002. Patients interested in enrolling in this clinical study should email info@pdsbiotech.com or visit the website at http://pdsbiotech.com/VERSATILE-002 to learn more.

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune and Infectimune T-cell activating technology platforms.

Our Versamune-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them.  The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Our Infectimune-based vaccines have demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T-cell responses including long-lasting memory T-cell responses. For more information, visit www.pdsbiotech.com.