PDS Clinical Trial with Mayo Clinic
15th February 2022
The study evaluates PDS0101 with and without KEYTRUDA® prior to surgery for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer
London, UK – 15 February 2022 – NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI), the international life sciences and sustainability technology investment and commercialisation Group, announces that its portfolio company, PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), announced the initiation of an Investigator-Initiated Trial (ITT), MC200710, for PDS0101 alone or in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor, KEYTRUDA®, in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV(+)OPSCC) at high risk of recurrence. The trial is being led by Drs. David Routman, Katharine Price, Kathryn Van Abel, and Ashish Chintakuntlawar of Mayo Clinic, a nationally and internationally recognized center of excellence for the treatment of head and neck cancers.
HPV(+)OPSCC is now the most common type of head and neck cancer and has been increasing significantly in recent years. Oropharyngeal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tonsil tissues of the back (base of tongue) and side (palatine tonsils) of the throat. According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking or being infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV16, can increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there are over 54,000 new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer and over 11,000 related deaths in the United States, annually.
Dr. Lauren Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech commented: “We are excited to have a team of doctors at Mayo Clinic conducting a trial to study our novel Versamune®-based T cell immunotherapy platform and lead asset, PDS0101 in earlier-stage disease.
“This upcoming trial not only broadens our addressable patient population of those affected by the increasing incidence of HPV(+)OPSCC, but also allows us to better understand the activity of PDS0101.”
Dr. Ilian Iliev, CEO of NetScientific, commented: “The initiation of this trial with the world famous Mayo Clinic is in addition to the Phase 2 clinical partnerships PDS has with Merck, the National Cancer Institute and MD Anderson. We believe that PDS’ focus on high-quality clinical partnerships provides the company with a strong differentiator in a time of volatility in the biotech sector.”