Transgene Provides Update on Phase 2 Trial of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine in Recurrent or Metastatic HPV16-Positive Cervical & Anogenital Cancers

Transgene recently announced its randomized Phase 2 study to evaluate TG4001 in combination with avelumab versus avelumab alone in patients with recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive cervical and anogenital tumors has not met the primary objective of the study (improvement in progression-free survival).

The pre-planned subgroup analysis showed a positive efficacy trend in favor of the TG4001 containing regimen in cervical cancer patients, which requires further confirmation through additional analyses, including by PD-L1 status. These patients account for approximately half of the patients enrolled in the study.

The treatment has been well tolerated. Adverse events are consistent with previous observations.

Transgene is currently evaluating the full study results in detail to determine the best way forward for this program and will communicate further once this is completed.

Dr. Alessandro Riva, Chairman and CEO of Transgene, said “Failure to meet the primary objective in our Phase II study with TG4001 is disappointing. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the positive efficacy trend in favor of the combination regimen in cervical cancer patients. We plan to complete a full and rigorous analysis of the data before deciding on any path forward for this asset, in particular in cervical cancer, in the context of the evolving treatment landscape. The complete study results will be presented at an upcoming scientific conference.  We would like to thank all the patients and caregivers who have taken part in this study for their important contribution. With a diversified portfolio of novel immunotherapies targeting solid tumors, our strategy remains focused on advancing our lead asset, TG4050, an individualized cancer vaccine for head and neck cancers for use following surgery and adjuvant therapy. We expect to report additional data on TG4050 from the 24-month median follow-up of Phase I patients in our head and neck cancer trial in November 2024 at the SITC conference.”

 TG4001 (tipapkinogen sovacivec) is an investigational therapeutic vaccine based on a non-propagative, highly attenuated Vaccinia vector (MVA), which is engineered to express HPV16 antigens (E6 & E7) and an adjuvant (IL-2). TG4001 is designed to have a two-prolonged antiviral approach: to alert the immune system specifically to cells presenting the HPV16 E6 and E7 antigens, that can be found in HPV16-related tumors, and to further stimulate the infection-clearing activity of the immune system through interleukin 2 (IL-2). TG4001 has been administered to more than 350 individuals. Its mechanism of action and good safety profile make TG4001 an excellent candidate for combinations with other therapies in HPV-mediated solid tumors.

 TG4001 was evaluated in a multi-center, open label, randomized Phase II trial (NCT03260023) designed to compare the efficacy of the combination of TG4001 and avelumab versus avelumab alone in patients with recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive cervical and anogenital cancers who have disease progression after a maximum of one line of systemic treatment, or who are not eligible for first-line chemotherapy. The overall trial enrolled 100 patients.

Transgene (Euronext: TNG) is a biotechnology company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Transgene’s programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of indirectly or directly killing cancer cells.

The Company’s clinical-stage programs consist of a portfolio of therapeutic vaccines and oncolytic viruses: TG4050, the first individualized therapeutic vaccine based on the myvac platform, TG4001 for the treatment of HPV-positive cancers, as well as BT-001 and TG6050, two oncolytic viruses based on the Invir. IO viral backbone.

With Transgene’s myvac platform, therapeutic vaccination enters the field of precision medicine with a novel immunotherapy that is fully tailored to each individual. The myvac approach allows the generation of a virus-based immunotherapy that encodes patient-specific mutations identified and selected by Artificial Intelligence capabilities provided by its partner NEC. With its proprietary platform Invir. IO, Transgene is building on its viral vector engineering expertise to design a new generation of multifunctional oncolytic viruses. For more information, visit www.transgene.fr.