A new publication in Advanced Therapeutics comprehensively reviews the rationale and preclinical results for OVM-200 both alone and in combination.
Oxford, UK – 10th October 2023
Press Release – Importance of Survivin as a target and potential for combination use to treat cancer
Oxford Vacmedix (OVM), the UK-based biopharma company focused on the development of vaccines to treat cancer announced today the publication of a key research paper on its lead cancer vaccine, OVM-200. The paper, in the online journal Advanced Therapeutics, comprehensively reviews the rationale for targeting survivin, the advances in vaccine design using OVM’s novel recombinant overlapping peptide (ROP) platform and the compelling preclinical results for OVM-200 being used both alone and in combination with an immune oncology agent.
OVM-200 targets survivin, a protein overexpressed by cancer cells that allow unregulated growth and stimulates an immune response. The vaccine is in a Phase 1 trial which is both the first time OVM-200 has been used in people and also the first time any ROP based vaccine has been tested in the clinic. The Phase I trial of OVM-200 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. Patients are being treated at five leading hospitals in the UK. To date twelve patients have been treated at four dose levels in Phase 1a, the dose escalation part of the trial – the initial results show very good safety and a strong immune response. A further 24 patients are being treated in Phase 1b.
Professor Shisong Jiang, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of OVM, said:
“We are very pleased this research paper has been published. It shows not just the rationale for selecting survivin as a target and for the design of our ROP vaccines but also our convincing preclinical results with OVM-200. We look forward to the completion of Phase 1 and to being able to combine OVM-200 with immune oncology agents in Phase 2, to help patients with advanced cancer.”
Dr Mark Tuthill, Principal Investigator for the trial at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust added;
“We are very excited by the Phase 1a results from the trial of OVM-200 and look forward to being able to progress with the trial. We are very pleased to be working with the team at OVM and to have the opportunity to see how these vaccine treatments can benefit patients. We strongly believe that cancer vaccine will play a major role in the future, potentially in combination with immune-oncology agents.”
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Read the publication: Survivin-Based Recombinant Overlapping Peptides Induce T Lymphocyte Cytotoxicity and Prolong the Survival in In Vivo Melanoma Model
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 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 peptides (ROPs) invented by Professor Shisong Jiang. ROPs have 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 ROPs 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 in infectious diseases.
OVM is developing two lead vaccines, OVM-100 and OVM-200, focusing on unmet clinical need. OVM-100 is an HPV vaccine targeted at cervical cancer, and OVM-200 represents 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 single agents and in combination with IO agents. OVM has a strong pipeline, with a diagnostic for anti-microbial resistance being tested and two other cancer vaccines is preclinical development.
OVM secured Series A investment from Dx&Vx (formerly Cancer ROP), a listed South Korean biotech company, and from existing shareholders in China in 2018. The company is currently seeking 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 will be explored.
For more information: https://www.oxfordvacmedix.com