Imugene Ltd (ASX:IMU, OTC:IUGNF) and cancer research and treatment organisation City of Hope in the US have dosed the first patient in cohort 3 of the phase I clinical trial of oncolytic virotherapy candidate, CHECKvacc (CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1).
The first-in-human, phase 1, single-centre, dose escalation study of CHECKvacc is recruiting patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Designed to kill tumour cells and activate the immune system
CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 is an immune checkpoint inhibitor armed chimeric vaccinia poxvirus from the lab of CF33 inventor Professor Yuman Fong, Sangiacomo family chair in surgical oncology at City of Hope, and a noted expert in the oncolytic virus field.
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are designed to both selectively kill tumour cells and activate the immune system against cancer cells, with the potential to improve clinical response and survival.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and initial evidence of efficacy of intra-tumoural administration of CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 against metastatic TNBC.
The current trial design will involve a dose escalation, followed by an expansion to 12 patients at the final dose, which will be the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D).
“Continued to see early positive results”
Imugene MD & CEO Leslie Chong said: “We are pleased with the continued progress being made in this trial as we dose the first patient in cohort 3.
“From cohorts 1 & 2 we’ve continued to see early positive results in oncolytic virus infection and replication in the TNBC tumours and importantly there remains no observed toxicity.
“CHECKvacc has the potential to improve clinical response and survival in this indication where there are currently no meaningful treatments, and we are eager to deliver on that.”