Heat Biologics Cancer Vaccines May Boost Efficacy of Checkpoint Inhibitorsfinance.yahoo.com • almost 7 years ago---
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In an informed scientific decision, Heat Biologics new lung cancer trial to include checkpoint inhibitors; Long-term vision sees possible increase in efficacy, with toxic side effects reduced; Combining cancer vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors is gaining clinical momentum; Whether both modalities together lead to success hangs in the balance; in the meantime, Heat may need cash; Change in clinical trial design is intended to boost shareholder value through better outcomes
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 18, 2015 / Heat Biologics (HTBX:NASDAQ), in a move motivated by delivering the best clinical results in treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), made an informed scientific move to follow a new initiative.
- Heat is the first to combine a cancer vaccine with a checkpoint inhibitor for NSCLC,
although others are exploring hopes that a multi-based therapy would increase efficacy
without bad side effects seen with PD-1 targeted drugs.
- Later, Heat found that patients in its trial for bladder cancer using HS-410 did
better when low levels of lymphocytes, another key component of human immunity,
were detected, leading researchers to conclude that cancer vaccines could boost
T-cell production and, in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, increase the otherwise
poor numbers of responders with checkpoint inhibitors alone, currently 30%-40% of
patients.
- With enrollment in DURGA underway, Heat is ahead of NewLink as the first biotech
to use a vaccine with a checkpoint inhibitor in lung cancer.
- Heat viewed this as support for shifting clinical focus in its NSCLC trial and in
addition to Opdivo, plans to study Merck & Co.'s (MRK:NYSE) Keytruda, another potent
checkpoint inhibitor, with HS-110 when Keytruda gets approval for lung cancer (Keytruda
received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA last October, stressing clinical
recognition of the strength of this drug class).