Targovax Strengthens Focus on ONCOS Oncolytic Virus Development Program

June 11, 2018 |

5 min read

Recent clinical data is driving increased interest in the industry for oncolytic viruses as an emerging class of cancer therapeutics

Recent clinical data is driving increased interest in the industry for oncolytic viruses as an emerging class of cancer therapeutics

Development of Targovax lead product, ONCOS-102, to be prioritized in mesothelioma as launch indication as well as checkpoint inhibitor combinations in cold tumors

Targovax ASA (“Targovax” or “the Company"; OSE: TRVX), a clinical stage company focused on developing and commercializing immune activating oncology therapies to target, primarily, treatment resistant solid tumors, today announces an update to its clinical development strategy.

Targovax has previously reported encouraging proof-of-concept data from clinical trials with both of its immune activator platforms technologies; ONCOS, which uses genetically armed oncolytic adenoviruses, and TG, a neo-antigen vaccine that targets mutant RAS cancers. However, based on recent external clinical data and market dynamics, Targovax has decided to prioritize and strengthen the development focus on the ONCOS program.

Over the past 12 months, there has been clinical data released from multiple external studies corroborating the potential of oncolytic viruses as an important class of immune activating agents that can boost the effect of other treatments, such as checkpoint inhibitors. This notion is further strengthened by increased partnering and M&A activity by major global pharmaceutical companies, underscored by the acquisitions earlier this year of Viralytics and Benevir by Merck and Johnson & Johnson, respectively.

Furthermore, data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting on June 1-5 has fundamentally changed the development preconditions for the TG program. Data from independent trials testing the chemotherapy cocktail Folfirinox in resected pancreas cancer, the lead indication for TG01, has demonstrated an improvement in median overall survival of up to 2 years compared to the current standard of care (gemcitabine and capecitabine). These results are great news for patients suffering from this difficult-to-treat cancer. It is expected that the Folfirinox treatment regimen will be quickly adopted as a new standard of care in resected pancreatic cancer, and it is already clear that that the design of Targovax’s planned randomized phase II trial of TG01 in combination with gemcitabine and capecitabine is inadequate and that the trial will not start. Although we are confident that TG01 will be active in combination with any standard of care therapy, the new Folfirinox median survival benchmark of close to 5 years means that such a combination trial is not practically feasible for Targovax.

Targovax strongly believes in the potential of the TG platform to treat mutant RAS cancers, and is encouraged by the signal of efficacy seen in the recent phase I/II trial in resected pancreas cancer. In addition, the company already has a phase I trial underway in colorectal cancer with TG02, the second-generation product from the TG program, combining with pembrolizumab. This trial is expected to read out in 2019. In light of the new Folfirinox data, the Company will together with its clinical advisors reevaluate and reshape the development plans for TG, and devise a strategy for how to best create value for both patients and shareholders. A revised development strategy for the TG program will be presented during the autumn.

The resources freed up by this decision will be allocated to strengthen and speed up ONCOS development. In particular, Targovax is currently looking into options to expand the ongoing trial in mesothelioma, the target launch indication for ONCOS-102.

Øystein Soug, CEO of Targovax said “It is fortunate for us that the emerging Folfirinox data in resected pancreatic cancer was presented at ASCO already this year, as it gave us the opportunity to reassess our trial design before committing to an inadequate combination treatment. We are confident that our TG vaccine has potential to benefit patients with mutant RAS cancers, and will now reassess the TG development plan. ONCOS continues to be our lead program, and we will further sharpen our focus to drive ONCOS-102 forward with full force, and remain in the forefront of oncolytic virus development”

About Targovax

Activating the patient’s immune system to fight cancer

Targovax (OSE:TRVX) is a clinical stage company focused on developing and commercializing immune activators novel to target hard to treat solid tumors. Immuno-oncology is currently one of the fastest growing therapeutic fields in medicine.

Targovax’s primary product candidate, ONCOS-102, is a genetically modified oncolytic adenovirus, used as potential multi-target, neo-antigen therapeutic cancer vaccines. It has been engineered as an immune activator that selectively targets cancer cells. In phase I trials it has demonstrated immune activation at lesional level which was associated with clinical benefit. ONCOS-102’s lead indication is mesothelioma where the virus is currently being developed in a phase II trial. A second trial, in advanced melanoma, is expected to produce important proof of concept data for checkpoint inhibitor refractory patients.

In addition, Targovax has a neo-antigen cancer vaccine under development targeting tumors that express mutated forms of RAS. Key proof of concept data for the TG platform from a clinical trial of TG01 in resected pancreatic cancer patients showed encouraging overall survival. A next generation product candidate, TG02 is currently being combined with pembrolizumab in a phase I trial in colorectal cancer.

Both platforms are protected by an extensive portfolio of IP, know-how, and have the potential to yield multiple product candidates.

Conference call

The company will host a conference call which will include a Q&A session. CEO Øystein Soug, CMO Magnus Jäderberg and CFO Erik Digman Wiklund will host the conference call. Call in details can be found below:

Date: Tuesday 12 June 2018

Time: 08:30 CET

Call-in numbers:
Norway: +47-2100-2610
Sweden: +46-(0)-8-5033-6574
UK +44-(0)-330-336-9105
US: +1-323-794-2423
International: +44-(0)-330-336-9105

Access code: 9281577

Please make sure to dial in at least 5-10 minutes ahead to complete your registration.

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

Renate Birkeli, Investor Relations

Phone: +47-922-61-624

Email: renate.birkeli@targovax.com

Media and IR enquires:

Andreas Tinglum - Corporate Communications (Norway)