PDS Initiates Programs for COVID-19, PDS0101 delay

RNS Number : 9224J

NetScientific PLC

16 April 2020

 

NetScientific plc

("NetScientific" or the "Company")

PDS Biotechnology Initiates Novel Vaccine Development Programs For COVID-19

and Universal Influenza; Delay of PDS0101 VERSATILE-002 trial

London, UK - 16 April 2020 - NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI), the transatlantic healthcare IP commercialisation Group, today announces that its portfolio company PDS Biotechnology Corporation ("PDS") (Nasdaq: PDSB) announced today an expanded infectious disease pandemic development program, including novel vaccines for COVID-19 and universal influenza, in addition to its previously announced tuberculosis development collaboration with Farmacore Biotechnology. The Company also announced that initiation of its multi-center Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial for PDS0101 in advanced/metastatic head and neck cancer has been delayed due to the severe adverse impact on clinical trial operations from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below is the full announcement made today by PDS Biotechnology

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PDS Biotechnology Initiates Novel Vaccine Development Programs For COVID-19 and Universal Influenza; Delay of PDS0101 VERSATILE-002 trial

Expanded infectious disease program to address current and potential pandemics builds on existing tuberculosis collaboration

Initiation of Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial for PDS0101 in advanced/metastatic head and neck cancer delayed due to global COVID-19 pandemic

PRINCETON, N.J., April 16, 2020 (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® T-cell activating technology, today announced an expanded infectious disease pandemic development program, including novel vaccines for COVID-19 and universal influenza, in addition to its previously announced tuberculosis development collaboration with Farmacore Biotechnology. The Company also announced that initiation of its multi-center Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial for PDS0101 in advanced/metastatic head and neck cancer has been delayed due to the severe adverse impact on clinical trial operations from the COVID-19 pandemic.

PDS Biotech's products combine its novel Versamune® technology with custom-designed, disease-specific proteins to induce both neutralizing antibody and killer (CD8+) T-cell responses, which when co-induced are more powerful in fighting disease than either alone. This proven Versamune® mechanism, combined with a favorable safety profile, provides a strong rationale to expand the development of Versamune®-based products beyond its initial series of cancer immunotherapies to add potentially transformative vaccines to protect and fight against infectious agents, including COVID-19, influenza, and tuberculosis.

In the Company's previously reported Phase I clinical study of PDS0101 (NCT02065973), Versamune® was confirmed to be safe and to uniquely facilitate the induction of strong antigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells in vivo, including memory T-cell responses against the HPV viral target, leading to regression of disease.

"The potency and versatility of the proprietary Versamune® T-cell activating platform makes it possible for PDS Biotech to immediately start development of novel vaccines to protect against infectious disease agents with pandemic potential, starting with COVID-19 and influenza," commented Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, CEO of PDS Biotech. "Preventive vaccines to date have focused on induction of neutralizing antibodies. However, both neutralizing antibodies and killer (CD8+) T-cells have now been confirmed to be important in addressing pathogen-induced diseases such as COVID-19, influenza and tuberculosis. We believe that there is a clear opportunity to leverage our Versamune® platform to develop more effective vaccines that have the potential to safely generate a broader range of immune responses, including antibodies, killer T-cells, and memory T-cells, to prevent and to provide long-term protection against the spread of pandemic agents."

"While we are adding these new programs, we remain committed to our immuno-oncology programs, including two upcoming single-site Phase 2 studies - one with the NCI to evaluate PDS0101 in combination with two promising immuno-modulating agents in advanced HPVassociated cancers, and another to evaluate the combination of PDS0101 and chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. We will continue to closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 on these trials and on oncology clinical trial operations in the US, and will seek to initiate our Phase 2 head and neck cancer trial in the near future if possible," Dr. Bedu-Addo concluded.

Dr. Lauren Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech added, "Versamune® has demonstrated a superior ability to present viral antigens to our immune system, while simultaneously activating critical immunological pathways that enable the immune system to more effectively respond to and protect against disease. The engineered simplicity, ease of administration, and scalability of Versamune® also enhances the potential of Versamune®-based products to better mitigate the devastating impact of emerging pathogens such as coronaviruses on human health. As we seek to advance our expanded infectious disease development effort, we look forward to discussions with relevant government and non-governmental organizations to determine the most expeditious path forward into human testing."

About PDS Biotechnology

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company with a growing pipeline of cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company's proprietary Versamune® T-cell activating technology platform. Versamune® effectively delivers diseasespecific antigens for in vivo uptake and processing, while also activating the critical type 1 interferon immunological pathway, resulting in production of potent disease-specific killer T-cells as well as neutralizing antibodies. PDS Biotech has engineered multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize disease cells and effectively attack and destroy them. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

For more information, please contact:

NetScientific  Ian Postlethwaite, CEO/CFO	Tel: [phone]
WHIreland (NOMAD, Financial Adviser and Broker) Chris Fielding / Darshan Patel	Tel: [phone]
MO PR ADVISORY (Press Contact) Mo Noonan	Tel: [phone]

About NetScientific

NetScientific PLC is a transatlantic healthcare IP commercialisation Group focused on technologies and companies that have the potential to treat chronic disease and significantly improve the health and well-being of people. 

For more information, please visit the website at   www.NetScientific.net

 

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