Oxford Vacmedix announces completion of Phase 1a in clinical trial of novel cancer vaccine OVM-200

29 March 2023

The initial part of a Phase I trial of OVM-200, Oxford Vacmedix’s lead cancer vaccine, has been completed – the first clinical trial of a cancer vaccine using novel ROP technology.

Oxford, UK – 29th March 2023

Press Release – Oxford Vacmedix announces completion of Phase 1a in clinical trial of novel cancer vaccine OVM-200

Oxford Vacmedix (OVM), the UK-based biopharma company focused on the development of vaccines to treat cancer announced today the successful completion of a Phase 1 trial of its lead cancer vaccine; OVM-200 is a cancer vaccine developed using OVM’s novel recombinant overlapping peptide (ROP) platform. It targets survivin, a protein overexpressed by cancer cells that allow unregulated growth, and stimulates an immune response. This trial is both the first time OVM-200 has been used in people and also the first time any ROP based vaccine has been tested in the clinic.

The Phase I trial of OVM-200 is focused on safety and on establishing an immune response in patients with three tumour types – non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. Patients have been treated at four sites in the UK; University College London Hospital (UCLH), the cancer hospital of the Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust (OUHFT), the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in London. The Chief Investigator for the trial is Professor Martin Forster, based at UCLH. To date twelve patients have been treated at four dose levels in Phase 1a, the dose escalation part of the trial. A further 24 patients will be treated in Phase 1b.

William Finch, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Vacmedix, said:

“We are very pleased to have reached this important milestone in the first trial of any vaccine using the ROP technology and also very pleased with the safety and immune response results to date. As the trial is ongoing, we can only share these initial results under confidentiality with potential investors. We are currently in discussion with a number of investors interested in participating in our Series B, to fund the company going forward.”

Professor Martin Forster, Chief Investigator based at University College London Hospital added;

“It is a privilege to work with the team at Oxford Vacmedix on this innovative vaccine programme for patients with lung, prostate and ovarian cancer. As clinical investigators we are very excited by the Phase 1a results and look forward to being able to complete this trial of OVM-200. We strongly believe that vaccine treatments will play a major role in future cancer treatments, potentially in combination with immune -oncology agents”

END

For more information or to express an interest in investing in Series B please contact:

William Finch, CEO, Oxford Vacmedix

T: +44 (0)1865 742087 | M: +44(0)7769 903711 | E: wfinch@oxfordvacmedix.com

Dr Anthony Coombs, Executive Chairman, Oxford Vacmedix

T: +44 (0)1865 742087 | M: +44(0)7919 002161 | E: acoombs@oxfordvacmedix.com

Notes to Editor

About Oxford Vacmedix

Oxford Vacmedix UK Ltd, based at the Oxford Science Park, UK, is a bio-pharma company that was spun out from the University of Oxford’s Department of Oncology and is utilising the novel proprietary platform technology of recombinant overlapping peptides (ROPs) invented by Professor Shisong Jiang. ROPs have been validated as a technology to stimulate broad and strong T cell immunity therefore forming a good platform for therapeutic vaccines and diagnostics in cancer and infectious diseases.

The technology uses the novel, proprietary platform of ROPs to design and develop therapeutic cancer vaccines and diagnostics with the potential for increased efficacy, lower costs, simpler regulatory pathways and synergy when used in combination with other immune oncology (IO) agents. The company has extensive contacts and collaborations in China through Changzhou Bioscience Group (CBIG) that is using the ROP platform for diagnostics in both cancer and in infectious diseases.

OVM is developing two lead vaccines, OVM-100 and OVM-200, focusing on unmet clinical need. OVM-100 is an HPV vaccine targeted at cervical cancer, and OVM-200 represents a new type of vaccine utilising survivin to target solid tumours including prostate, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Both vaccines will be tested as single agents and in combination with IO agents. OVM has a strong pipeline, with a diagnostic for anti-microbial resistance being tested and two other cancer vaccines is preclinical development.

OVM secured Series A investment from Dx&Vx (formerly Cancer ROP), a listed South Korean biotech company, and from existing shareholders in China in 2018. The company is currently seeking Series B funding to advance OVM-200 to Phase 2 and OVM-100 into Phase 1 trials, as monotherapy and also in combination. In addition the option of using MRNA delivery with the ROP technology will be explored.

For more information: https://www.oxfordvacmedix.com

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Oxford Vacmedix announces completion of Phase 1a in clinical trial of novel cancer vaccine OVM-200