Imugene Ltd (ASX:IMU, OTC:IUGNF) has cleared the cohort 3 intratumoral (IT) arm of the monotherapy dose escalation study in its Phase 1 metastatic advanced solid tumours (MAST) trial evaluating the safety of its cancer-killing virus CF33- hNIS, also known as VAXINIA.
This means the clinical-stage immuno-oncology company can now begin recruitment for IT cohort 4 of the monotherapy dose escalation, where VAXINIA will be administered in three to six patients.
“We continue to rapidly advance our monotherapy dose while the combination study continues its positive progress,” Imugene managing director and chief executive officer Leslie Chong said.
“We remain incredibly eager to bring the results of this trial to our shareholders, patients and the wider public.”
Early success
Developed by Professor Yuman Fong from the City of Hope, VAXINIA has exhibited promising results in pre-clinical laboratory and animal models, displaying the potential to shrink tumours in various cancer types, including colon, lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers.
The Phase 1 MAST trial focuses on the assessment of VAXINIA in patients with metastatic or advanced solid tumours who have undergone at least two prior lines of standard-of-care treatment.
The multi-centre trial began in May last year and is expected to run for about 24 months.
It aims to recruit up to 100 patients across 10 trial sites in the United States and Australia.