PDS Biotech Announces Expansion of its VERSATILE-002 Clinical Trial into Europe

Rhea-AI Summary

PDS Biotechnology Corporation (PDSB) announced the acceptance of its Clinical Trial Application (CTA) by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the expansion of the VERSATILE-002 study. This study evaluates PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab). Enrollment in the UK is anticipated to begin in Q3 2022, marking a significant regulatory milestone. Preliminary safety data has been reported as highly encouraging, indicating the potential for expanding access to patients and expediting enrollment in this promising HPV-targeted immunotherapy.

Positive

• Acceptance of Clinical Trial Application (CTA) by UK's MHRA for VERSATILE-002 study.
• Expected enrollment in the UK for PDS0101 in Q3 2022.
• Preliminary safety data of PDS0101 combined with KEYTRUDA reported as highly encouraging.

Negative

• None.

Promising preliminary clinical results validate expansion of study initially into the United Kingdom

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune^® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technologies, announced the acceptance of its Clinical Trial Application (CTA) from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom (UK) to allow expansion of its VERSATILE-002 study of PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA^® (pembrolizumab) to the UK. The MHRA is among several regulatory agencies that PDS Biotech is seeking approval from to expand the trial into various sites outside of the United States. PDS Biotech anticipates that enrollment in the UK could begin during the third quarter of 2022.

“The acceptance of this CTA marks another important regulatory milestone for PDS Biotech. Initiation of our global expansion is a key advancement to expedite enrollment into the VERSATILE-002 clinical study,” stated Dr. Lauren Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. “Additionally, this expansion allows PDS to expose global regulators to our novel molecularly targeted immunotherapies.”

Chris Curtis, Chief Executive Officer of the UK-based charity group, The Swallows, stated, “The reported preliminary safety data of PDS0101 in combination with pembrolizumab is highly encouraging, and we are pleased that European patients will be able to enroll in this promising clinical study of an HPV-targeted immunotherapy with standard of care, pembrolizumab.”

KEYTRUDA^® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune^® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune^®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune^® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Our Infectimune™ -based vaccines have demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T-cell responses including long-lasting memory T-cell responses. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune^® and Infectimune™-based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune^® and Infectimune™-based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to our currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control, including unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to COVID-19. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in the Company’s annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Versamune^® is a registered trademark and Infectimune™ is a trademark of PDS Biotechnology.

Investor Contact:
Rich Cockrell
CG Capital
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838
Email: pdsb@cg.capital

 

FAQ

What is the purpose of the VERSATILE-002 study for PDSB?

The VERSATILE-002 study aims to evaluate the efficacy of PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s KEYTRUDA in treating HPV-targeted cancers.

When will the enrollment for PDSB's trial in the UK begin?

Enrollment for the UK trial is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2022.

What are the implications of the CTA acceptance by MHRA for PDSB?

The acceptance signifies a major regulatory milestone, enabling the expansion of the clinical trial and potential faster patient enrollment.

What is PDS0101 and its significance in cancer treatment?

PDS0101 is an HPV-targeted immunotherapy that leverages PDS Biotechnology's proprietary technology to enhance the immune response against cancer.

How does KEYTRUDA work in conjunction with PDS0101?

KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that aims to enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer, which may improve the efficacy of PDS0101 in the clinical study.