Vaccinex, Inc. Announces Groundbreaking Preclinical Data Demonstrating An Immunomodulatory Role For Anti-SEMA4D Antibody Blockade In Colon And Breast Cancer

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Vaccinex Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced publication of a manuscript entitled "Antibody blockade of semaphorin 4D promotes immune infiltration into tumor and enhances response to other immunomodulatory therapies" in Cancer Immunology Research.

The publication is the first to establish a role for Sema4D in the regulation of immune cell composition within the tumor microenvironment as well as connect blockade of Sema4D to changes in the abundance and activation state of immune cells that are critical for tumor rejection.  In addition, preclinical data is presented suggesting that optimal benefit of blockade of anti-Sema4D is obtained in combination with checkpoint blockade inhibitors or other immunotherapeutic agents that enhance the magnitude of tumor-specific immune responses.

* Link to the article - http://cancerimmunolres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2015/01/22/2326-6066.CIR-14-0171.full.pdf

Humanized anti-SEMA4D antibody, VX15/2503, has completed a Phase I prospective multiple ascending dose trial in 42 adult patients with advanced refractory solid tumors, in which the highest doses were well tolerated.  Patients with the longest duration of treatment, 48-55 weeks, included colorectal, breast, and a papillary thyroid cancer patient, who had a partial response by RECIST.  A phase 1b/2a trial of combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor is planned.

About Vaccinex, Inc.
Based in Rochester, New York, Vaccinex, Inc. is a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Huntington's disease. Vaccinex utilizes its proprietary ActivMAb® Antibody Discovery Technology for rapid, mammalian cell-based antibody selection to build its antibody pipeline and in service to its biopharmaceutical partners. Compared to other selection technologies, ActivMAb® combines the advantages of rapid and sensitive selection by virus panning and cell sorting in one technology, with intrinsic selection of antibodies that are efficiently expressed and stable in mammalian cells. For more information and to contact Vaccinex, visit www.vaccinex.com.

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SOURCE Vaccinex, Inc.