PDS Biotechnology Licenses Protein for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Prostate & Breast Cancers From National Cancer Institute


PDS Biotechnology Corporation recently announced a licensing agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for intellectual property related to the NCI’s proprietary tumor-associated and immunologically active T-cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP).

Approximately 470,000 patients are diagnosed annually with TARP-associated cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), prostate, and breast cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. In preclinical studies performed by PDS Biotech, the administration of PDS0102, the Versamune-TARP tumor antigen combination, led to the induction of large numbers of tumor targeted killer T-cells. It is important to note, the TARP tumor antigen alone has already been studied at the NCI in men with prostate cancer and been shown to be safe, immunogenic, and associated with slowing tumor growth rates (NCT00972309).

“The highly promising proof-of-concept data presented earlier this year in the advanced HPV cancer trial solidifies our confidence in the Versamune technology to rapidly advance our pipeline into other types of debilitating cancers,” said Dr. Lauren V. Wood, PDS Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer. “We are excited about the potential of PDS0102, which leverages the Versamune platform to improve on the results reported in humans with the NCI’s TARP antigen alone.”

The worldwide, non-exclusive license secures rights for the proprietary TARP antigen from the NCI with patent protection through 2034.

PDS0102 combines the utility of the Versamune platform with the proprietary T-cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP), a tumor antigen identified by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) which is strongly associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), breast and prostate cancers. Approximately 470,000 patients are projected to be diagnosed with AML, prostate, or breast cancer this year, most of which are associated with TARP.

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of cancer immunotherapies based on the company’s proprietary Versamune T-cell activating technology platform. 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 breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers. For more information visit www.pdsbiotech.com.