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measured in a separate pre-defined local assessment at the participating
hospitals
- The trial investigators also observed an improvement in overall survival in
the UV1 arm over the control arm, although the data need to mature before a
conclusion can be reached
- Safety profile was similar in both arms of the trial, confirming good safety
profile for UV1
- Detailed, updated results will be shared at an upcoming medical conference
- Two additional ongoing UV1 Phase II trials in malignant melanoma and head
and neck cancer expected to report within a year
Webcast to take place tomorrow, 8 June 2023 at 10:00 am (CET). Webcast link
(https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20230608_2)
Oslo, 7 June 2023: Ultimovacs ASA (“Ultimovacs”) (OSE ULTI), a clinical-stage
biotechnology leader in novel immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines, today announced
the topline results of NIPU, an investigator-initiated Phase II trial in
patients indicated for second-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma
(MPM). Based on central review, the study did not meet the primary endpoint of
PFS. Investigator assessment of the primary endpoint, a pre-defined supportive
analysis, showed a statistically significant positive PFS benefit for the
patients in the UV1 arm. The central review was performed by a blinded,
independent clinical research organization, whereas the investigator assessment
was performed by specialized radiologists at the study hospitals.
Current data indicates improvement in overall survival in the UV1 arm over the
control arm, but the data need to mature before a conclusion can be reached. The
safety profile of the combination of UV1 plus ipilimumab and nivolumab
(treatment arm) observed in the trial was consistent with the safety profile of
ipilimumab and nivolumab alone (control arm), confirming the good safety profile
for UV1. Further results from the study will be presented by the sponsor at an
upcoming medical conference. The patients will continue to be monitored for
efficacy and safety endpoints over the next years.
“The results showed that the NIPU trial did not meet the primary endpoint of PFS
based on blinded independent central review. Based on investigator assessment, a
pre-defined supportive analysis of PFS, the study showed a statistically
significant improvement in PFS for patients receiving UV1,” said Åslaug Helland,
Principal Investigator in the NIPU trial and Professor at Oslo University
Hospital. “Further, the data show a positive trend towards improvement in
overall survival in the UV1 arm over the control arm, although it is still
early, and the data need to mature before we can reach a conclusion. Overall
survival is the most important efficacy measure in cancer treatment. We are
encouraged by the results and look forward to further understanding the
vaccine’s role in improving survival in this hard-to-treat patient group.
Detailed, updated results will be shared at an upcoming medical conference. We
wish to thank the patients and investigators for their participation and
important contributions to the NIPU study.”
The NIPU study is sponsored by Oslo University Hospital with support from
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ultimovacs. The randomized, open-label, multi-center
trial with 118 patients conducted in Scandinavia, Spain, and Australia was
designed to investigate if combining UV1 with checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab
and nivolumab would provide a benefit compared to ipilimumab and nivolumab
alone, in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma as a second-line
treatment, after first-line treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. The
first patient in the NIPU trial was enrolled in June 2020, and the last patient
was randomized in January 2023.
“NIPU was a tough challenge because mesothelioma is known as a very hard-to-
treat form of cancer particularly in second-line treatment where there is no
established standard of care. Despite not meeting the primary endpoint of PFS
based on central review, we are encouraged by the overall results including
safety, PFS based on investigator assessment, and preliminary overall survival.
We are looking forward to learning more about the data and especially the
overall survival, when the data have matured,” said Carlos de Sousa, Chief
Executive Officer, Ultimovacs. “We are now even more optimistic about the
ongoing Phase II clinical development program, which will report data from two
additional studies in different cancer indications within a year.”
MPM is considered an aggressive, complicated form of cancer with a high
mortality rate and few therapeutic options. Patients affected have often been
occupationally or environmentally exposed to asbestos. Several efforts have been
made in the last decades to improve the survival outcomes of patients with MPM.
There is currently no established standard of care in second-line treatment. The
biological characteristics of pleural mesothelioma set it apart from other
cancer types being investigated in the UV1 clinical program.
UV1 is a therapeutic cancer vaccine used to generate an immune response against
the enzyme human telomerase (hTERT). The enzyme is essential for the ability of
cancer cells to proliferate. Telomerase is present in 85-90% of all cancers,
across the stages of the disease.
Ultimovacs is evaluating the universal cancer vaccine UV1 in a broad clinical
development program across various cancer indications with different biologies
and disease stages, in combination with different checkpoint inhibitors. The
topline data from NIPU are the first results among the currently five randomized
trials in the UV1 Phase II clinical program. In addition to malignant pleural
mesothelioma, Phase II studies are ongoing in patients with MPM, head and neck
cancer, ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The topline data from the
malignant melanoma and head and neck cancer trials are expected within a year.
UV1 is a patented, proprietary technology owned by Ultimovacs.
A webcast will be hosted by Ultimovacs management team tomorrow 8 June 2023 at
10:00 CET (link
(https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20230608_2)). The
presentation will be held in English and questions can be submitted throughout
the event. Link to the webcasts will also be available on Ultimovacs’ website.
==ENDS==
About NIPU
NIPU (Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Plus/minus UV1 vaccination) is a randomized,
multi-center phase II trial in which Ultimovacs’ universal cancer vaccine, UV1,
is evaluated in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s checkpoint inhibitors,
nivolumab and ipilimumab, as second-line treatment of malignant pleural
mesothelioma. The trial sponsor is Oslo University Hospital, supported in the
preparation and execution of the trial by Ultimovacs and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
The 118 patients are randomized 1:1 into two treatment arms. All participants
receive treatment with nivolumab (240 mg every 2 weeks) and ipilimumab (1 mg/kg
every 6 weeks) until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or for a maximum
of 2 years. Patients randomized to the experimental arm received 8 intradermal
injections of UV1 vaccine during the first three months of treatment. The
objective of the study is to achieve a clinically meaningful progression-free
survival (PFS) benefit in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)
after progression on first-line standard platinum doublet chemotherapy.
Subsequent events emerging in patients in both arms of the NIPU study will
continue to be monitored beyond read-out of the primary endpoint. The ipilimumab
and nivolumab combination has recently been approved as first-line treatment for
patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma in Europe and the U.S.
About Mesothelioma
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that
occurs in the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs and inside of the
chest. Mesothelioma accounted for 30 870 new cancer cases and 26 278 cancer
deaths worldwide in 2020, according to International Agency for Research on
Cancer (Globocan 2020). Pleural mesothelioma is a disease with a high unmet
medical need, especially in industrialized countries. The median overall
survival is approximately 1 year. Occupational asbestos exposure is the No. 1
cause of the disease, and several occupations like firefighters, military
veterans, construction, and industry workers, are at risk. This cancer usually
takes several decades to develop after a person’s first exposure to asbestos.
Most patients are diagnosed after age 70 because of the long latency period.
Even though the use of asbestos to a large extent is banned in many countries
today, new incidences of mesothelioma will continue to be a medical and public
health challenge because of the long latency period typical of the illness. For
patients with inoperable disease, few treatment options are available after
first-line chemotherapy. The combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab has
recently shown increased survival compared to standard chemotherapy, but most
patients do not respond, and improvements are called for. Telomerase is
expressed in mesothelioma cells and is therefore a relevant target for
therapeutic vaccination.
About UV1 Phase II program
The immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine UV1 is investigated in combination with
checkpoint inhibitors in patients with various cancer indications with diverse
tumor biology. The UV1 Phase II program’s diversity puts Ultimovacs in an
advantageous position to capture the cancer vaccine’s potential broad
applicability when combined with checkpoint inhibitors, for further clinical
development:
- INITIUM: Evaluating UV1 in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab as
first-line treatment for patients with malignant melanoma. Enrollment of
156 patients completed. Expected readout H2 2023. Sponsored by Ultimovacs.
- NIPU: Evaluating UV1 in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab as second-
line treatment for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Enrollment
of 118 patients completed. Topline results announced June 2023.
Investigator-initiated study led by Oslo University Hospital, supported by
Bristol-Myers Squibbs and Ultimovacs.
- FOCUS: Evaluating UV1 in combination with pembrolizumab as first-line
treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. >80% of 75 patients
recruited as of Q1 2023 reporting, expected readout H1 2024. Investigator-
initiated study led by Halle University in Germany, supported by Ultimovacs.
- DOVACC: Evaluating UV1 in combination with olaparib and durvalumab as
maintenance therapy in non-BRCA mutated patients with advanced ovarian
cancer. <20% of 184 patients recruited as of Q1 2023 reporting, expected
readout H2 2024. Investigator-initiated study led by NSGO-CTU, supported by
ENGOT, AstraZeneca and Ultimovacs.
- LUNGVAC: Evaluating UV1 in combination with cemiplimab as first-line
treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. <10% of 138 patients
recruited as of Q1 2023 reporting, expected readout H2 2025. Investigator-
initiated study led by Vestre Viken (Drammen Hospital), supported by
Ultimovacs.
About Ultimovacs
Ultimovacs is a clinical-stage biotechnology leader in novel immunotherapeutic
cancer vaccines with broad applicability. Ultimovacs’ lead cancer vaccine
candidate UV1 is directed against human telomerase (hTERT) an antigen that is
present in 85-90% of cancers in all stages of tumor growth. A broad clinical
program, with Phase II trials in five cancer indications enrolling more than
670 patients, aims to demonstrate UV1’s impact in combination with other
immunotherapies in multiple cancer types expressing telomerase and where
patients have unmet medical needs. UV1 is universal, off-the-shelf and easy to
use, and is a patented technology owned by Ultimovacs.
In addition, Ultimovacs’ adjuvant platform, based on the proprietary Tetanus-
Epitope-Targeting (TET) technology, combines tumor-specific antigens and
adjuvant in the same molecule and is in Phase I clinical development.
About UV1
UV1 is a universal cancer vaccine designed to induce a specific T cell response
against telomerase. UV1 consists of long, synthetic peptides, representing a
sequence in the reverse transcriptase subunit of telomerase (hTERT), shown to
induce CD4+ T cells. These CD4+ T cells have the potential to provide
inflammatory signals and T cell support believed to be critical for triggering a
strong anti-tumor immune response. Following intradermal injection, antigen
presenting cells (APCs) in the skin are exposed to the vaccine peptides. These
APCs will process the peptides, and present vaccine epitopes on Human Leukocyte
Antigen (HLA) molecules to naïve T cells in the lymph nodes. Activated vaccine
specific T cells will then enter the circulation and search for cells displaying
their cognate antigen in the context of HLA molecules.
The UV1 peptides contain several epitopes, shown to be non-restrictive in terms
of (HLA) alleles for presentation. It is therefore not required to perform HLA
pre-screening of patients, which potentially enables broad population
utilization of the vaccine. UV1 is administered over three months as eight
intradermal injections together with the immune-modulator GM-CSF.
For further information, please see www.ultimovacs.com or contact:
Carlos de Sousa, CEO
Email: carlos.desousa@ultimovacs.com (mailto:carlos.desousa@ultimovacs.com)
Phone: +47 908 92507
Anne Worsøe, Head of Investor Relations
Email: anne.worsoe@ultimovacs.com (mailto:anne.worsoe@ultimovacs.com)
Phone: +47 90686815
This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU
Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant
to Section 5-12 in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
This stock exchange announcement was published by Anne Worsøe, Head of Investor
Relations at Ultimovacs ASA, on 7 June, 2023 at 19:00 CET.
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