Evaxion Biotech A/S (NASDAQ: EVAX) has announced positive interim results from its phase 2 trial of EVX-01, a personalized cancer vaccine, in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), demonstrating a 69% Overall Response Rate (ORR) in patients with advanced melanoma. The data was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Promising Results from Phase 2 Trial
The trial data indicates that 15 out of 16 patients experienced reductions in their tumor target lesions. Furthermore, the vaccine triggered a targeted immune response in 79% of the cases, which is notably high compared to other approaches. This suggests a significant potential for EVX-01 in transforming melanoma treatment.
AI-Driven Personalized Approach
EVX-01 is designed using Evaxion's AI-Immunology™ platform to target neoantigens, which are unique to each patient's tumor. This approach enhances the immune system's ability to fight cancer by creating a personalized vaccine tailored to the specific characteristics of each patient's tumor. The positive correlation between the platform's predictions and the immune response observed in patients, with a p-value of p=0.00013, underscores the robust predictive capability of the AI technology.
Market Potential and Future Outlook
The commercial potential of EVX-01 is substantial, considering the rising global incidence of melanoma, projected to reach 510,000 new cases by 2040. The melanoma treatment market is expected to grow to $7.4 billion by 2029, positioning EVX-01 as a potentially significant advancement in the field. Evaxion's CEO, Christian Kanstrup, expressed optimism about the vaccine's clinical profile and its potential to transform cancer treatment.
Evaxion's Broader Commitment
EVX-01's development is part of Evaxion's broader commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections through its AI-Immunology™ platform. The company's ongoing research aims to explore and expand the potential of its AI platform, with final results from the phase 2 trial anticipated in the third quarter of 2025.
