NetScientific has welcomed new data from portfolio company PDS Biotechnology showing more patients saw a measurable benefit in the ongoing VERSATILE-002 head and neck cancer trial.
Fourteen patients in the immune checkpoint inhibitor naïve arm of VERSATILE-002 experienced either a complete response or partial response on two consecutive scans, thus constituting a confirmed objective response, PDS noted.
A confirmed objective response occurs when imaging indicates tumour shrinkage of 30% or more.
Fifty-four patients have been enrolled for VERSATILE-002, a phase 2 trial measuring the efficacy of PDS’s PDS0101 treatment in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA.
Lauren Wood, PDS Biotechnology's chief medical officer said: "Achieving the efficacy threshold in VERSATILE-002 is an important milestone for us, especially as it has been achieved ahead of the full efficacy evaluation for this cohort.
“With our Phase 2 trial near completion, and our planned global Phase 3 confirmatory randomized, controlled trial, VERSATILE-003, actively advancing, we believe we are closer to our goal of providing a well-tolerated, safe and effective therapy for those who suffer from head and neck cancer."