REG - Ergomed plc - Ergomed expands co-development with CEL-SCI <Origin Href="QuoteRef">ERGO.L</Origin>

ErgomedAnnouncement

05/10/2015 13:10

RNS Number : 2525B
Ergomed plc
05 October 2015
ERGOMED INCREASES ITS CO-DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTION IN CEL-SCI'S PHASE 3 HEAD AND NECK CANCER TRIAL
Guildford, UK-5 October 2015: Ergomed plc, ('Ergomed', AIM: ERGO) a profitable UK-based company dedicated to the provision of specialised services to the pharmaceutical industry and the development of new drugs and CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSE MKT: CVM) ("CEL SCI" or the "Company"), today announced that they have expanded their co-development agreement with increased activities to be undertaken by Ergomed. Pursuant to the expanded co-development agreement, Ergomed's contribution to the Phase 3 study will increase from $10 million to $12 million. The companies are undertaking the Phase 3 trial of CEL-SCI's investigational immunotherapy Multikine* (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection) in patients with advanced primary head and neck cancer. 
Under the extended agreement, Ergomed will contribute up to $12 million towards the cost of performing clinical services for the Phase 3 study in exchange for a single digit percentage of milestone and royalty payments, up to a specified maximum amount. Well over 500 patients have been enrolled in the world's largest Phase 3 trial for head and neck cancer.
Miroslav Reljanovic M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ergomed plc, said: "At this point in the clinical trial we have decided to increase our investment in the development of Multikine, as we believe that it holds the potential to treat head and neck cancer in a new way. Our potential returns from this agreement will increase in line with our investment."
CEL-SCI CEO Geert Kersten added: "Working with a skilled CRO, our Phase 3 trial is making significant progress towards completing study enrollment goals. We are pleased to enter into this expanded co-development agreement with Ergomed. It further aligns Ergomed's goals with CEL-SCI's as Ergomed will be rewarded for its $12,000,000 co-development investment from the commercialization of the drug."
For further information, please contact:
Hume Brophy - for UK enquiries
Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur and Hollie Vile
Tel: + 44 203 440 5654
ergomed@humebrophy.com
Stifel 
NOMAD/Broker to the Company
Jonathan Senior
Tel: +44 207 710 7600
MC Services - for Continental European enquiries
Anne Hennecke
Tel: +49 211 529252 22
anne.hennecke@mc-services.eu
About Ergomed plc
Founded in 1997, Ergomed plc is a profitable UK-based company, providing drug development services to the pharmaceutical industry and has a growing portfolio of co-development partnerships. It operates in over 40 countries.
Ergomed provides clinical development, trial management and pharmacovigilance services to over 60 clients ranging from top 10 pharmaceutical and generics companies to small and mid-sized drug development companies. Ergomed successfully manages clinical development from Phase I through to late phase programmes.
Ergomed has wide therapeutic expertise, with a particular focus in oncology, neurology and immunology and the development of orphan drugs. Ergomed'sapproach to clinical trials is differentiated from that of other providers by its innovative Study Site Management model and the use of Study Physician Teams, resulting in a close relationship between Ergomed and the physicians involved in clinical trials.
As well as providing high quality clinical development services, Ergomed is building a portfolio of co-development partnerships with pharma and biotech companies. Here Ergomed shares the risks and rewards of drug development, leveraging its expertise and services in return for carried interest in the drugs under development. - a low risk investment model for potential high returns. For further information, visit: http://ergomedplc.com.
Global pharmacovigilance and medical information services are provided through its group company PrimeVigilance. www.primevigilance.com
About the Multikine Phase 3 Study
The Multikine Phase 3 study is enrolling patients with advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The objective of the study is to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in the overall survival of enrolled patients who are treated with the Multikine treatment regimen plus standard of care ("SOC") vs. subjects who are treated with SOC only.
About Multikine
Multikine (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection) is an investigational immunotherapeutic agent that is being tested in an open-label, randomized, controlled, global pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial as a potential first-line treatment for advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Multikine is designed to be a different type of therapy in the fight against cancer: one that appears to have the potential to work with the body's natural immune system in the fight against tumors.
Multikine is also being tested in a Phase 1 study under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement ("CRADA") with the U.S. Naval Medical Center, San Diego, and at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), as a potential treatment for peri-anal warts in HIV/HPV co-infected men and women. Dr. Joel Palefsky, a world renowned scientist and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) in human papilloma virus (HPV) research and the prevention of anal cancer, is the Principal Investigator at UCSF, which was added to the study in July 2015.
About CEL-SCI Corporation
CEL-SCI's work is focused on finding the best way to activate the immune system to fight cancer and infectious diseases. Its lead investigational therapy, Multikine (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection), is currently being studied in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial as a potential neoadjuvant treatment for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. If the study endpoint, which is a 10% improvement in overall survival of the subjects treated with the Multikine treatment regimen plus the current SOC as compared to subjects treated with the current SOC only, is satisfied, the study results will be used to support applications that the Company plans to submit to regulatory agencies in order to seek commercial marketing approvals for Multikine in major markets around the world. Additional clinical indications for Multikine that are being investigated include the treatment of cervical dysplasia in HIV/HPV co-infected women, and the treatment of peri-anal warts in HIV/HPV co-infected men and women. A Phase 1 trial of the former indication has been completed at the University of Maryland. The latter indication is now in a Phase 1 trial in conjunction with the U.S. Naval Medical Center, San Diego, under a CRADA, and at UCSF.
CEL-SCI is also developing its pre-clinical L.E.A.P.S. (Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System) technology for the potential treatment of pandemic influenza in hospitalized patients and as a potential vaccine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained within the announcement are forward looking statements and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the potential returns of Ergomed plc ("Ergomed") and industry and markets in which Ergomed operates, the Directors' beliefs and assumptions made by the Directors. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "should", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "projects", "pipeline" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments and involve certain risks, uncertainties, outcomes of negotiations and due diligence and assumptions that are difficult to predict, qualify or quantify. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements or expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: the general economic climate, competition, interest rate levels, loss of key personnel, the result of legal and commercial due diligence, the availability of financing on acceptable terms and changes in the legal or regulatory environment.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Ergomed expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Ergomed's expectations with regard thereto, any new information or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority.

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