Positive biomarker data announced in phase 1/2a study of glioblastoma treatment
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A Boston-area biopharmaceutical has announced additional positive biomarker data from a phase 1/2a study of a novel cancer vaccine immunotherapeutic intended to treat those with recurrent glioblastoma.
According to a release from VBI Vaccines, new proof-of-mechanism data demonstrated that treatment with VBI-1901 was associated with T-cell activation capable of trafficking across the blood-brain barrier to the tumor microenvironment.
The data were presented at the 28th Annual Meeting and Education Day of the Society for Neuro-Oncology on Nov. 17.
According to statistics cited in the release, treatment achieved a 44% disease control rate achieved (seven of 16 participants) while the same number of enrollees reached a minimum survival of 12 months with a tumor response. Median overall survival was 12.9 months, compared with 8 months for current standard-of-care monotherapy.
Researchers also found higher blood/plasma levels of C4G protein in patients who achieved partial tumor responses compared with those who had either stable or progressive disease. Additionally, higher levels of C4G after vaccination with VBI-1901 have been associated with longer progression-free survival, per the release.
VBI also revealed ongoing enrollment in a planned multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label phase 2b study to assess safety and tolerability of VBI-1901 in which 60 individuals with recurrent GBM are expected to participate.
“The [glioblastoma] tumor microenvironment is notoriously immunosuppressive and difficult to penetrate, which is why most treatment needs to be administered intratumorally, and why there are currently so few effective treatment options for patients,” David E. Anderson, PhD, VBI chief scientific officer, said in the release. “We believe that these data continue to enrich the potential for VBI-1901 to have meaningful impact in recurrent and primary GBM, and we look forward to data from the next phases of development in each setting.”