OSLO, Norway, June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Targovax
ASA (OSE: TRVX), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company
developing oncolytic viruses to target hard-to-treat solid tumors,
today announces that it has entered into a collaboration agreement
with the Explorations in Global Health (ExGloH) Division of Leidos
to evaluate the potential of using ONCOS oncolytic adenoviruses as
a vector to encode Microtide™ checkpoint inhibitor peptides.
Targovax's clinical program is focused on combining ONCOS
viruses with checkpoint inhibitors. This combination is promising
since checkpoint inhibition complements oncolytic virotherapy by
blocking the tumor's main defense mechanism against the anti-tumor
immune response generated by the oncolytic virus.
ExGloH has developed a unique, proprietary portfolio of
microbially-derived peptides, called MicrotideTM, that
act as immune checkpoint inhibitors. The simple structure and small
size of Microtide™ peptides make them well-suited for delivery by
DNA vectors, and the parties will explore whether this capability
can be extended to ONCOS viruses. If successful, this could
potentially circumvent the need to combine ONCOS with classical
systemically delivered checkpoint inhibitors.
Under the agreement, Leidos and Targovax will investigate the
technical feasibility, in vitro and in vivo immune
modulatory, and anti-cancer properties of encoding Microtide™
checkpoint peptides in the ONCOS adenovirus backbone. If
successful, the combined ONCOS and Microtide™ constructs may serve
as a platform where additional functionality can be built in to
stimulate multiple complementary anti-tumor mechanisms.
Dr. Erik Digman Wiklund, Chief
Business Officer of Targovax, said: "We are continuously
looking for new strategies to enhance the immune activation
potential and explore novel payloads for our ONCOS viruses. In
ExGloH we have found a collaborator with a unique class of
checkpoint inhibitors that we believe perfectly complements ONCOS.
We are very excited to jointly explore whether the ONCOS and
Microtide™ combination can enhance the second generation of ONCOS
viruses and serve as a platform for future clinical product
candidates to fulfil important medical needs."
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)
Phone: +47-9300-1773
Email: andreas.tinglum@corpcom.no
This information was brought to you by Cision
http://news.cision.com
https://news.cision.com/targovax/r/targovax-enters-collaboration-with-leidos-to-add-checkpoint-inhibitor-functionality-to-oncos-viruses,c3127503
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/targovax-enters-collaboration-with-leidos-to-add-checkpoint-inhibitor-functionality-to-oncos-viruses-301070595.html
SOURCE Targovax