Imugene Limited (ASX:IMU) has announced promising results from its Phase 1 MAST trial, where a patient with bile tract cancer achieved and maintained a complete response for over two years following treatment with VAXINIA (CF33-hNIS). The MAST trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel cancer-killing virus.
The company reported that the Bile Tract Cancer Expansion arm of the trial has successfully cleared its initial cohort of three patients. These patients experienced no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), paving the way for full enrollment of up to 10 patients. This expansion aims to further explore the potential of VAXINIA in treating this challenging cancer.
Regulatory Milestones
In November 2023, VAXINIA received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of bile tract cancer. This designation facilitates closer collaboration with the FDA, potentially accelerating the development and approval process through avenues like accelerated approval and priority review. Furthermore, in September 2024, the FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation to VAXINIA for the same indication.
Patent Protection
Imugene has also secured a patent extension from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, extending protection for its oncolytic virotherapy CF33, which includes VAXINIA (CF33-hNIS) and CHECKVacc (CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1), until 2040. This patent extension strengthens Imugene's position in the oncolytic virus therapy space.
Management Commentary
"Imugene receiving this patent extension to 2040 from the US patent office is a significant milestone for the CF33 family of oncolytic viruses," said Imugene CEO Leslie Chong. "The US is the core healthcare market, and we are delighted to strengthen the patent life."
Chong added, "We’re also very pleased to see the two-year milestone reached for the Bile Tract Cancer patient who has maintained a complete response in our MAST study. Most importantly this is an outstanding result for the patient given the limited treatment options available, but also demonstrates the excellent potential of the CF33 oncolytic virus for this and other cancer types. We continue to enroll into the bile tract cancer expansion of the MAST trial."
