Promising Oncology Breakthroughs Sparking Wave of Next Generation of Brain Cancer Therapies

VANCOUVER, B.C., Feb. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group  -  The way we think about treating brain cancers is being quietly revolutionized, buried beneath recent headline-grabbing announcements pertaining to COVID-19. A series of discoveries and breakthroughs in oncology, especially those targeting glioblastoma—the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer in adults. Over the span of just a month, researchers in Canada, the USA, and Israel have announced breakthrough discoveries that could upend the field for years to come. While projections for the Global Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market are expected to hit $3.4 billion by the end 2025, the pharma sector is answering the call with their own studies for proprietary treatments, including companies such as Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: NWBO), Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: INO), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN), and Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY).

Positive results were just announced by Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) for the ReoGlio phase 1b trial for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)—being designed, managed and funded by the University of Leeds, Cancer Research UK, and The Brain Tumor Charity.

Featured in a podium presentation at the 2020 Society of Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, Oncolytics Biotech announced that the latest ReoGlio results show a compelling signal of efficacy and demonstrate the safety and tolerability of a therapy involving the developer's flagship platform as part of a combination therapy in newly diagnosed GBM patients.

The trial has been launched to evaluate the combination of Oncolytics' proprietary oncolytic virus platform, pelareorep, with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) alongside standard chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide (aka "Temodar") to treat GBM.

"The ReoGlio trial results add to a robust set of clinical data supporting the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of pelareorep in a broad range of indications," said Dr. Thomas Heineman, Global Head of Clinical Development and Operations at Oncolytics. "The median progression-free survival (PFS) of approximately eight months is encouraging in this challenging indication, particularly considering the improved median PFS correlated with the dose of pelareorep administered. Together, these results drive momentum to develop pelareorep across a spectrum of cancer indications."

Key data and conclusions from the presentation included:

• Evaluable patients treated at pelareorep dose level-2 (3x10¹⁰ TCID₅₀) had an estimated median PFS of 9.4 months (n=6; 95% CI: 4.2-10.6)
• Evaluable patients treated at pelareorep dose level-1 (1x10¹⁰ TCID₅₀) had an estimated median PFS of 6.1 months (n=6; 95% CI: 4.9-9.2)
• The estimated median PFS of all evaluable patients, regardless of pelareorep dose level, was 7.8 months (n=12; 95% CI: 4.9-9.7)
• Pelareorep, in addition to GM-CSF, standard chemoradiotherapy, and adjuvant temozolomide, was safe and well-tolerated

The ReoGlio trial was an investigator-sponsored phase 1b, open-label trial evaluating the combination of pelareorep and GM-CSF, alongside standard chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide, for the treatment of newly diagnosed GBM. Fifteen patients were treated in the trial, twelve of which were evaluable for efficacy analyses. The primary objective of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of pelareorep and GM-CSF with standard chemoradiotherapy. Secondary objectives were to gain a preliminary assessment of the activity of the pelareorep-GM-CSF combination and to assess treatment compliance.

Oncolytics Biotech's (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) pelareorep is a non-pathogenic, proprietary isolate of the unmodified reovirus: a first-in-class intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers and has been demonstrated to be able to escape neutralizing antibodies found in patients.

Results from another trial were released in November, behind the ReoGlio announcement from a partnership involving both Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: INO), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) that also is targeting the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Back in May, results for the combination of Inovio's INO-5401 with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo (cemiplimab) demonstrated 85% of newly diagnosed GBM patients were alive 12 months following treatment. Updated results involving overall survival at 18 months (OS18) were released at the same 2020 Society of Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting as the Oncolytics Biotech announcement.

The progress for the Inovio treatment along with Sanofi/Regeneron's PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo (cemiplimab) has finally culminated with the collaboration picking up Libtayo's third FDA drug approval, the latest being for lung cancer.

Another set of clinical data to be released is set to come from Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: NWBO).

It appears that the long wait for results will soon be over, as the company's 14-year-long phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate its one and only immunotherapy candidate, DCVax-L, as a treatment for glioblastoma, concludes. 

DCVax-L has been in phase 3 clinical trials since December 2006, studying the efficacy of DCVax-L as an experimental immunotherapy that seeks to stimulate patients' own immune systems to fight cancer growth.

A key trial endpoint requires at least 233 patient deaths out of a total of 331 participants enrolled to calculate a survival benefit for DCVax-L, if any. The company completed its study on July 24, and the most recent update came in late October 2020.

Article Source: 

USA News Group
http://USAnewsgroup.com
[email protected]

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has been paid a fee for Oncolytics Biotech Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, which is disseminated by MIQ has been approved by Oncolytics Biotech Inc.; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles.

While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

USA News Group is Source of all content listed above. FN Media Group, LLC (FNM), is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with USA News Group or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by USA News Group are solely those of USA News Group and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

Media Contact Information:
FN Media Group, LLC
Media Contact e-mail:  
[email protected] 
U.S. Phone: +1(954)345-0611

SOURCE USA News Group

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED