RCS - NetScientific PLC - PDS Biotech: new data on PDS0101

NetscientificAnnouncement

03/10/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 4419O  NetScientific PLC  02 October 2023

Reach: For immediate release

NetScientific plc

PDS Biotechnology PDS Biotech Announces PDS0101 Combined with
Chemoradiotherapy Associated with Rapid Decline in Circulating Tumor DNA
(ctDNA/cfDNA)

Study evaluated levels of circulating cell-free HPV DNA (cfDNA) in patients
with locally advanced cervical cancer in the IMMUNOCERV Phase 2 clinical trial
and patients receiving standard of care (SOC) treatment

Patients treated with PDS0101 had greater clearance of cfDNA as compared to
those treated with SOC (at week 5, 91.7% vs. 53.1%, P=0.0179)

Data presented during oral presentation at ASTRO 2023 Annual Meeting

NetScientific Plc (AIM: NSCI), the deep tech and life sciences VC investment
group, reports that its portfolio company, PDS Biotechnology Corporation
(Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing
pipeline of targeted cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines
based on the Company's proprietary T cell activating platforms, has announced
data demonstrating lead candidate PDS0101 in combination with standard-of-care
(SOC) chemoradiotherapy (CRT) was associated with a rapid decline in human
papillomavirus (HPV) circulating cell-free DNA (cfHPV-DNA), a potential
predictive biomarker of treatment response. The data from the IMMUNOCERV Phase
2 clinical trial were featured in an oral presentation by Aaron Seo, MD, PhD,
of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, at the American Society
for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO 2023
(https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fpdsbiotech.us4.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3d407bd594246e0ad6fd93882af%26id%3d3c503b9c51%26e%3d27d88613f0&c=E,1,oJ2-kGd6sYVS8K4xuVSX82v8k8OMMDXBoK5xQyTgm7ls04rznSB1nnIagPpDN74SL7hpaeAFcuUNFaGGl_5V_XLYDxLwba9_1luc6knu0Nz0OybvE8f-OJ5j&typo=1)
) Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

The IMMUNOCERV Phase 2 trial is investigating PDS0101 in combination with SOC
CRT in the treatment of cervical cancer patients with large tumours over 5 cm
in size and/or cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes. HPV is the primary
cause of cervical cancer with over 99% caused by HPV infection, and cfHPV-DNA
can be detected in the blood of patients with cervical cancer. HPV type 16
(HPV16) is the most prominent subtype associated with cervical cancer. The
study presented at ASTRO 2023 evaluated the relationship between the levels of
circulating cfHPV-DNA and the extent of disease, clinical staging, and
treatment response in patients with HPV-positive cervical cancer.

Dr Lauren V. Wood, PDS Biotech's Chief Medical Officer, said:

"We are encouraged by this data from the IMMUNOCERV trial, which highlight the
potential of PDS0101 to positively impact cfDNA, an emerging biomarker of
clinical response in cervical and other HPV-related cancers. The findings
complement previously presented IMMUNOCERV data which suggested PDS0101
promotes the induction of multifunctional CD8 killer T cells that were
associated with declines in circulating tumour DNA and a clinical response
with greater than 60% tumour shrinkage at mid-point evaluation in 100% of
high-risk cervical cancer patients on the trial. We look forward to continuing
to address the unmet needs of patients suffering from HPV-positive cancers
such as cervical cancer."

Sixty-one patients with cervical cancer were included in the analysis either
as part of a SOC treatment banking protocol (n=44) or as part of the
IMMUNOCERV Phase 2 clinical trial combining PDS0101 with SOC (n=17).
Longitudinal plasma samples were collected from each patient at baseline,
during weeks 1, 3, and 5, and at 3-4 months after CRT.

In the study, HPV16 was detected in 59% of tumours and 70% of cfDNA. The
median cfDNA at baseline was 28.15 copies/mL, with a range of 0 to 206,030
copies/mL.

The presentation at ASTRO 2023 highlighted the following data:

·     Earlier and greater proportion of cfDNA clearance with PDS0101 plus
chemoradiation (CRT) vs. SOC CRT alone (81.3% clearance after 3 weeks vs.
30.3% with SOC (p=0.0018), and 91.7% of clearance at 5 weeks vs. 53.1% with
SOC (p=0.0179)

·     Baseline cfDNA levels correlated with the International Federation
of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and lymph node involvement; 100% of
patients treated with PDS0101 had cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes

Ann Klopp, MD, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson said:

"HPV16 cfDNA represents a novel biomarker with the potential to help
oncologists make more informed treatment decisions for their patients with
HPV16-positive cancers. This early data are encouraging, and we will continue
to evaluate patients to determine any potential correlations between cfDNA
clearance and clinical outcomes. Further analysis of cfDNA kinetics could
provide valuable information on the relationship between cfDNA levels,
treatment response, and ongoing clinical outcomes. I look forward to the
continued evaluation of PDS0101 in combination with standard-of-care
chemoradiotherapy."

A full version of PDS Biotech's announcement can be accessed here:

https://www.pdsbiotech.com/index.php/investors/news-center/press-releases/press-releases1/125-2023-news/877-iotechnnounces0101ombinedwithhemoradiothera20231002
(https://www.pdsbiotech.com/index.php/investors/news-center/press-releases/press-releases1/125-2023-news/877-iotechnnounces0101ombinedwithhemoradiothera20231002)

 

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:

 

NetScientific

Ilian Iliev, CEO
 
Via Belvedere Communications

 

WH Ireland (NOMAD, Financial Adviser and Broker)

Chris Fielding / Darshan Patel
 
                +44 (0)20 7220 1666

 

Belvedere Communications

John West / Llew
Angus
+44 (0) 203 008 6867

Email: nsci@belvederepr.com (mailto:nsci@belvederepr.com)

 

About NetScientific

NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI) is a deep tech and life sciences VC investment
group with an international portfolio of innovative companies.

NetScientific identifies, invests in, and builds high growth companies in the
UK and internationally. The company adds value through the proactive
management of its portfolio, progressing to key value inflection points, and
delivering investment returns through partial or full liquidity events.

NetScientific differentiates itself by employing a capital-light investment
approach, making judicial use of its balance sheet and syndicating investments
through its wholly owned VC subsidiary, EMV Capital. The group secures a
mixture of direct equity stakes and carried interest stakes in its portfolio
of companies, creating a lean structure that can support a large portfolio.

NetScientific is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and is admitted to
trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.

www.netscientific.net (http://www.netscientific.net)

 

About PDS Biotechnology

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing
pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on
our proprietary Versamune(®), Versamune(®) plus PDS0301, and Infectimune(®)
T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the
potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches
through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To
date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the
ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with
approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of
HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be
advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA(®) for
the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in
2023. Our Infectimune(®) based vaccines have also 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
in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit
www.pdsbiotech.com
(https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fpdsbiotech.us4.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3d407bd594246e0ad6fd93882af%26id%3d57813ccb02%26e%3d27d88613f0&c=E,1,j_VgAE2py-bdHxISEfT30YqAoRwv72dTmqBKlkzNMeMOXbjGIlglSxjnN_kR7gXdV3Sf-nEuTGVcc-I9-VnHowaun2dCxGAH3Rf7QtJSpts7NgMxsRjJ9jc,&typo=1)
or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

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