RCS - NetScientific PLC - PDS Announces Preclinical Data for PDS0202 Vaccine

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28/01/2022 08:45

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RNS Number : 9779Z  NetScientific PLC  28 January 2022

NetScientific plc

("NetScientific", the "Group" or the "Company")

 

PDS Biotech Announces Preclinical Data for PDS0202 Universal Influenza Vaccine

London, UK - 28 January 2022 - NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI), the
international life sciences and sustainability technology investment and
commercialisation Group, announces that its portfolio company, PDS
Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) ("PDS"), announced yesterday
preclinical data for its universal flu vaccine, which was shown to be
effective against multiple strains of the influenza virus.

PDS Biotechnology is developing a new generation of flu vaccines with the
potential to provide long-lasting, and broad protection against multiple
strains of the virus. PDS believes that the successful development of a
universal flu vaccine could eliminate the need to create a vaccine to protect
against each year's predicted variants. According to the World Health
Organization, influenza causes 3 to 5 million cases and approximately 290,000
to 650,000 deaths each year.

PDS0202 combines PDS Biotech's proprietary Infectimune™ technology with
proprietary COBRA (Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigens)
designed by renowned influenza expert Dr. Ted Ross. PDS Biotech announced an
agreement with the University of Georgia to license the COBRA antigens.

The NIAID-sponsored preclinical work was performed by Dr. Jerold Woodward at
the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Dr. Ted Ross at the
University of Georgia, in collaboration with PDS Biotech. The studies
demonstrated the ability of PDS0202 to promote robust induction of broadly
neutralizing influenza-specific antibodies, flu-specific CD4 (helper) and CD8
(killer) T-cells, as well as long-lasting memory T-cells. This well
characterized and robust immune response to the COBRA antigens suggests strong
potential for broad and long-term protection against multiple strains of
influenza.

Dr. Lauren V. Wood, MD, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech said: "We are
excited by the highly promising preclinical results generated in collaboration
with Drs. Woodward and Ross. The COBRA antigens provide an innovative approach
to generating broadly effective immune responses against influenza, which when
combined with our Infectimune™ platform may provide effective neutralization
and protection against infection. The data suggests that PDS0202, has the
potential to overcome the well documented limitations faced in developing a
universal influenza vaccine."

Ted Ross, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Center for Vaccines and
Immunology, University of Georgia, added: "The preclinical results show the
potential for PDS0202 to be effective in preventing viral invasion of the
lungs by multiple strains of the influenza virus. We look forward to seeing
the PDS0202-COBRA vaccine in future human trials."

Ilian Iliev, CEO of NetScientific, commented: "This preclinical data
demonstrates the indicative strength of the PDS0202 vaccine, aiming to provide
a highly-scalable and robust, universal vaccine for a widespread global issue.
The data highlights the strength of PDS' innovative research, and we look
forward to seeing what is in store as it progresses through clinical trials."

 

The full text of the announcement from PDS Biotechnology is reproduced below
and is available online here:
https://pdsbiotech.com/investors/news-center/press-releases/press-releases1/118-2022-news/588-iotechnnouncesreclinicalatafor0202niversa20220127
(https://pdsbiotech.com/investors/news-center/press-releases/press-releases1/118-2022-news/588-iotechnnouncesreclinicalatafor0202niversa20220127)

###

 

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PDS Biotechnology
Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing
novel cancer therapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company's
proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technologies,
today announced preclinical data for its universal flu vaccine, which was
shown to be effective against multiple strains of the influenza virus.

 

Due to the existence of multiple strains of flu, a new seasonal flu
vaccination is usually developed to provide protection against the strains
predicted to be prevalent in an upcoming flu season. As a result, the
protective efficacy of the current vaccines varies widely from season to
season. PDS Biotechnology is developing a new generation of flu vaccines with
the potential to provide long-lasting, and broad protection against multiple
strains of the virus. We believe that the successful development of a
universal flu vaccine could eliminate the need to create a vaccine to protect
against each year's predicted variants. According to the World Health
Organization, influenza causes 3 to 5 million cases and approximately 290,000
to 650,000 deaths each year.

 

PDS0202 combines PDS Biotech's proprietary Infectimune™ technology with
proprietary COBRA (Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigens)
designed by renowned influenza expert Dr. Ted Ross. PDS Biotech announced an
agreement with the University of Georgia to license the COBRA antigens.

 

The NIAID-sponsored preclinical work was performed by Dr. Jerold Woodward at
the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Dr. Ted Ross at the
University of Georgia, in collaboration with PDS Biotech. Dr. Ted Ross is
Principal Investigator at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID) Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Center (CIVICs)
located at the University of Georgia. The studies demonstrated the ability of
PDS0202 to promote robust induction of broadly neutralizing influenza
-specific antibodies, flu-specific CD4 (helper) and CD8 (killer) T-cells, as
well as long-lasting memory T-cells. This well characterized and robust immune
response to the COBRA antigens suggests strong potential for broad and
long-term protection against multiple strains of influenza.

 

"We are excited by the highly promising preclinical results generated in
collaboration with Drs. Woodward and Ross," said Dr. Lauren V. Wood, MD, Chief
Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. "The COBRA antigens provide an innovative
approach to generating broadly effective immune responses against influenza,
which when combined with our Infectimune™ platform may provide effective
neutralization and protection against infection. The data suggest that
PDS0202, has the potential to overcome the well documented limitations faced
in developing a universal influenza vaccine."

 

"The novel mechanisms by which the PDS Biotech-patented lipids activate
critical immunological pathways may allow us to develop a new generation of
vaccines that could be more effective in protecting us from infectious
pathogens like influenza and Covid-19," stated Jerold Woodward, Ph.D.,
Professor of Immunology at the University of Kentucky, College of Medicine.

 

"The preclinical results show the potential for PDS0202 to be effective in
preventing viral invasion of the lungs by multiple strains of the influenza
virus," stated Ted Ross, Ph.D., Professor, and Director of the Center for
Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia. "We look forward to seeing the
PDS0202-COBRA vaccine in future human trials."

 

About PDS Biotechnology

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. To learn
more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com (http://www.pdsbiotech.com) or follow us
on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

 

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the
meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the "Company") and other
matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to
future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or
otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company's management, as well as
assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.
Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in
nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include
words such as "may," "will," "should," "would," "expect," "anticipate,"
"plan," "likely," "believe," "estimate," "project," "intend," "forecast,"
"guidance", "outlook" and other similar expressions among others.
Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that
are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future
performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in
any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including,
without limitation: the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property
rights; the Company's anticipated capital requirements, including the
Company's anticipated cash runway and the Company's current expectations
regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company's dependence on
additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and
commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such
additional capital may restrict the Company's operations or require the
Company to relinquish rights to the Company's technologies or product
candidates; the Company's limited operating history in the Company's current
line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company's
prospects, the Company's business plan or the likelihood of the Company's
successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or
its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and
other Versamune® based products; the future success of such trials; the
successful implementation of the Company's research and development programs
and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101,
PDS0203 and other Versamune® based products and the Company's interpretation
of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether
such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company's
product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company's ongoing
clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company's current
product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation,
pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including our ability to
fully fund our disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to
our currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at
conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim results
(including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are
not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company's ongoing
clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product
candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early
clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration
studies; the acceptance by the market of the Company's product candidates, if
approved; the timing of and the Company's ability to obtain and maintain U.S.
Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory authority approval of, or
other action with respect to, the Company's product candidates; and other
factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic
developments not within the Company's control, including unforeseen
circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from
or related to COVID-19. The foregoing review of important factors that could
cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as
exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included
herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in the Company's
annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements
are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by
applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any
forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

###

 

 

For more information, please contact:

 

 NetScientific                                     Via Walbrook PR
 Ilian Iliev, CEO

 WH Ireland (NOMAD, Financial Adviser and Broker)
 Chris Fielding / Darshan Patel                    +44 (0)20 7220 1666

 Walbrook PR                                       +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or netscientific@walbrookpr.com
 Nick Rome / Nicholas Johnson / Paul McManus       07748 325 236 / 07884 664 686 / 07980 541 893

 

About NetScientific

NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI) is a holding company, that invests in, develops,
commercialises and realises shareholder value in life sciences/healthcare,
sustainability and technology companies, which offer significant growth
potential predominately in the UK and USA, as well as globally.

With the acquisition of EMV Capital in August 2020, the Group doubled its
portfolio from 8 to 17 companies, either through direct subsidiary, balance
sheet investment or capital under advisory, varying from start-up private
companies to publicly listed equities.

NetScientific delivers shareholder returns through a proactive and hands-on
management approach to their portfolio companies; identifying, investing in,
and helping to build game-changing companies. The Group targets value
inflection points and the release of value through partial or full exits from
trade sales, public listings, or equity sales. The Company has a strong
transatlantic and growing international presence, providing attractive
expansion prospects.

NSCI can deploy a capital-light investment structure; utilising the power of
the PLC Brand, and the NetScientific balance sheet to anchor future
investments and achieve a multiplier effect by attracting 3rd party investment
for the portfolio companies.

NetScientific is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and was admitted to
trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange, in 2013
(website: netscientific.net (https://netscientific.net/) ).

 

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