Oxford Vacmedix licences cancer vaccine OVM-200 to leading shareholder Dx&Vx, for development in South Korea, China, and India.
Oxford, UK – 13th December 2024
Press release – OVM-200 licenced to Dx&Vx
Oxford Vacmedix (OVM), the UK-based biopharma company developing vaccines to treat cancer, announced today the finalisation of a licensing deal for its lead cancer vaccine OVM-200, with its largest shareholder Dx&Vx. The sub-license will grant Dx&Vx rights to develop and commercialise OVM-200 in South Korea, China, (including Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) and India. In return OVM will receive substantial milestones and double-digit royalties on sales. Under the agreement Dx&Vx will run clinical trials in South Korea, China, and India. Also, Dx&Vx will manage all regulatory and commercial aspects of OVM-200 development. OVM will co-operate on all aspects of clinical development and have access to the clinical trial data generated.
In anticipation of the sub-licence, the development team from Dx&Vx has recently visited Oxford for very productive discussions on development and CMC of OVM-200 for clinical trials in S. Korea, China, and India.
OVM-200 targets survivin, a protein overexpressed by cancer cells that allow unregulated growth, which stimulates an immune response. The vaccine is in a Phase 1 trial in the UK which is both the first time OVM-200 has been used in people and also the first time any ROP (Recombinant Overlapping Peptide) based vaccine has been tested in the clinic. The ongoing trial is focused on safety and on establishing an immune response in advanced cancer patients in three cancer indications: non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. Initial results from Phase 1a, the dose escalation part of the trial, have shown very good safety and a strong immune response. Phase 1b for another 18-20 patients is ongoing with extended dosing approved by the UK MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency).
William Finch, CEO of OVM, said:
We are very pleased that Dx&Vx is licensing OVM-200. This demonstrates real confidence in the technology. Our recent discussions in Oxford showed that Dx&Vx have both expertise and capability. We look forward to working closely with Dx&Vx on this programme. OVM-200 will be used both alone and in combination to help patients with advanced cancers.
Kevin Kwon, CEO of Dx&Vx, added:
We are delighted to be licensing-in OVM-200 and intend to implement Phase 1/ Phase 2a clinical trials in major Asian countries (South Korea, China, and India). We will try to launch OVM-200 through an accelerated approval that will allow patients to benefit from this novel technology as early as possible once clinical trials are completed around 2027.
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For more information or to express an interest in investing in Series B, please contact:
William Finch, CEO, Oxford Vacmedix
T: +44 (0)1865 742087 | M: +44(0)7769 903711 | E: wfinch@oxfordvacmedix.com
Notes to the Editor
About Oxford Vacmedix
Oxford Vacmedix UK Ltd, based at the Oxford Science Park, UK, is a bio-pharma company that was spun out from the University of Oxford’s Department of Oncology and is utilising the novel proprietary platform technology of recombinant overlapping peptide (ROP) invented by Professor Shisong Jiang. ROP has been validated as a technology to stimulate broad and strong T cell immunity, therefore forming a good platform for therapeutic vaccines and diagnostics in cancer and infectious diseases.
The technology uses the novel, proprietary platform of ROP to design and develop therapeutic cancer vaccines and diagnostics with the potential for increased efficacy, lower costs, simpler regulatory pathways, and synergy when used in combination with other immune oncology (IO) agents. The company has extensive contacts and collaborations in China through Changzhou Bioscience Group (CBIG) that is using the ROP platform for diagnostics in both cancer and infectious diseases.
Development of cancer vaccines
OVM is developing two lead vaccines, OVM-100 and OVM-200, focusing on unmet clinical need. OVM-100 is an HPV vaccine targeting cervical cancer and head and neck cancer and OVM-200 is a new type of vaccine utilising survivin to target solid tumours including prostate, ovarian, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Both vaccines will be tested as a single agent and in combination with IO agents. OVM has strong pipeline with a diagnostic for anti-microbial resistance being tested and two other cancer vaccines in preclinical development.
OVM secured Series A and more recently lead Series B investment from Dx&Vx (formerly Cancer ROP), a listed South Korean biotech company, and from other existing shareholders. The company is currently seeking further Series B funding to advance OVM-200 to Phase 2 and OVM-100 into Phase 1 trials, as monotherapy and also in combination. In addition, the option of using mRNA delivery with the ROP technology is also being explored.
For more information: https://www.oxfordvacmedix.com
About Dx&Vx
Dx&Vx develops and researches novel biotechnology solutions for healthcare. The company offers analysis technology and genetic information as well as developing molecular diagnostic techniques, disease treatment drugs, biological vaccines, and other biological products. Dx&Vx was previously known as Cancer ROP Co. Ltd. after its investment in Oxford Vacmedix in 2018. The company was founded in 2001 and is head-quartered in Seoul, South Korea.
For more information: https://www.dxvx.com