Oregovomab to be Combined with
ZEJULA® in a Proof-of-Concept Clinical
Study
EDMONTON, Oct. 26, 2017 /CNW/ - OncoQuest Inc.
("OncoQuest"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development and commercialization of immunotherapeutic products for
the treatment of cancer, today announced the signing of a
collaborative agreement with TESARO, Inc. ("TESARO") to
conduct a proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating the
combination of oregovomab with ZEJULA® (niraparib) in
the recurrent ovarian cancer setting.
"We are excited to work with TESARO, an oncology-focused
biopharmaceutical company, to evaluate the possible synergistic
effects of combining ZEJULA® with oregovomab in this important
clinical setting," stated Dr. Madi
Madiyalakan, CEO of OncoQuest.
This will be the third Phase 1/2 clinical study evaluating
oregovomab in combination with other drugs in the recurrent ovarian
cancer setting. OncoQuest has two other trials in progress
evaluating oregovomab in combination with nivolumab, a checkpoint
inhibitor, and Hiltonol®, an investigational TLR3 agonist,
respectively.
OncoQuest recently presented positive interim clinical results
for oregovomab in combination with standard of care carboplatin
paclitaxel chemotherapy in the front line ovarian cancer setting.
The final relapse free survival and overall survival data from the
Phase 2 study is being compiled and the final clinical study report
is expected to be presented to the regulatory authorities in the
first half of 2018.
Under the terms of the collaboration, the trial will be
sponsored by OncoQuest. TESARO will provide clinical supplies
of niraparib and partial funding in support of the trial.
Additional details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
The trial is expected to begin in 2018.
About oregovomab
Oregovomab is OncoQuest's high affinity monoclonal antibody (Mab
B43.13) that is designed to bind to the tumor associated antigen
CA125 (also designated MUC16) and initiate a cascade of immune
responses against this glycoprotein. CA125 is expressed in
epithelial ovarian cancer on the tumor surface, but is also shed
into the circulation. OncoQuest believes that carboplatin
paclitaxel based chemotherapy used in front line treatment in a
precisely scheduled combination with oregovomab can improve
outcomes relative to chemotherapy alone and is currently exploring
the role of select immune adjuvants and checkpoint inhibition to
assess oregovomab's application in advanced disease settings.
About ZEJULA® (niraparib)
ZEJULA® is an oral, once-daily poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)
1/2 inhibitor that is indicated in the U.S. for the maintenance
treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian,
fallopian, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or
partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. The National
Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) added ZEJULA® to the NCCN
Practice Guidelines in Oncology Ovarian Cancer version 1.2017-April
12, 2017-as maintenance therapy for patients with
platinum-sensitive disease who are in partial or complete response
after completion of two or more lines of platinum-based
chemotherapy. In preclinical studies, ZEJULA® concentrates in the
tumor relative to plasma, delivering greater than 90% durable
inhibition of PARP 1/2 and a persistent antitumor effect.
About OncoQuest
OncoQuest is a subsidiary of Quest
PharmaTech Inc. (TSXV-QPT) ("Quest"), and is a private
pharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of immunotherapies for cancer. OncoQuest's
technology platform includes a panel of tumor antigen specific
monoclonal immunoglobulins including CA125, MUC1, PSA and Her2/neu;
and the application of combinatorial immunotherapy to enhance tumor
specific immunity and clinical outcome. OncoQuest's lead product is
oregovomab for the treatment of ovarian cancer that is currently
undergoing multiple Phase 2 clinical trials. OncoQuest's MUC1
program has already undergone a Phase 1 clinical trial in breast
cancer patients, and its development is being led by OncoVent Co.
Ltd., OncoQuest's joint venture partner that has licensed the
rights of the immunotherapy technologies in the territory of
Greater China. OncoQuest's
next-generation products are based on immunoglobulin E licensed
from UCLA, Stanford University and Advanced Immune
Therapeutics, Inc. These antigen-specific monoclonal IgE antibodies
are currently in preclinical development.
Forward Looking Statements
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based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date
of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could
cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations
and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any
forward-looking statements. The information in this release is
provided only as of the date of this release and the company
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SOURCE Quest PharmaTech Inc.