OncoSec Medical Incorporated a late-stage biotechnology company developing intra-tumoral cancer immunotherapies, announced that it has licensed the exclusive rights to the Cliniporator electroporation or gene electrotransfer platform from IGEA Clinical Biophysics (“IGEA”). The license encompasses a broad field of use for gene delivery in oncology, including use as part of OncoSec’s visceral lesion applicator (VLA) program. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Cliniporator platform for use in the upcoming Phase 1 trial to be held at Providence Health investigating CORVax12, the Company’s DNA-encodable vaccine candidate for COVID-19. CORVax12 combines TAVO™ (tavokinogene telseplasmid), a DNA plasmid-based interleukin-12 (IL-12), with the National Institute of Health (NIH)’s SARS-CoV-2 virus “spike” protein.
“Based on our recently presented data at SITC and the current competitive landscape, we are confident that our gene electrotransfer technology will emerge as a preferred choice for therapeutic gene delivery in patients with advanced cancer for whom currently available treatment options have little or no effect,” said Daniel O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer of OncoSec. “The efficiency at which gene electrotransfer delivers therapy, along with a highly favorable safety profile and ease of use, make it an ideal choice for drug delivery. While our own current gene electrotransfer technology platform remains in development for low voltage applications, the exclusive rights we obtained under the IGEA Agreement provides OncoSec with the opportunity to bring low voltage technology to the clinic sooner, which potentially allows us to accelerate our VLA program. Low voltage application is also favorable for the delivery of DNA vaccines, and we will be testing Cliniporator in U.S. clinics as part of the Phase 1 clinical trial investigating CORVax12. Our unique approach with CORVax12 aims to produce stronger, longer-lasting immune responses and better protection against COVID-19 and other viruses, which is of particular importance for patient populations at risk of mounting an inadequate immune response, such as the elderly or immunocompromised individuals.”
The Cliniporator is CE marked and can be used in most countries outside the United States and is routinely used for electrochemotherapy in and outside of Europe in over 200 major oncological centers to treat cutaneous metastatic cancer nodules, including melanoma. IGEA has clinical experience with gene therapy as well, which OncoSec will build on. This pioneering technology will strengthen OncoSec’s current product candidate portfolio and potentially provide an important accelerator to the Company’s upcoming clinical trials.
Ruggero Cadossi, M.D., IGEA President, added, “We are proud to collaborate with OncoSec, a company committed to delivering innovative therapies to cancer patients. The culture of knowledge, honesty, moral commitment and the focus on solutions for patients diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening diseases were and will continue to be the guiding light of IGEA.”