- ComPACT secreting OX40L increased tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in preclinical models
DURHAM, N.C., July 07, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heat Biologics, Inc. (Nasdaq:HTBX), an immuno-oncology company developing novel therapies that activate a patient’s immune system against cancer, announced that a preclinical study on its next generation ComPACT platform technology, which combines a T cell priming vaccine and T cell co-stimulator in a single product, was published online in the journal “Cancer Immunology Research.” In the manuscript titled “Gp96-Ig/costimulator (OX40L, ICOSL or 4-1BBL) combination vaccine improves T-cell priming and enhances immunity, memory and tumor elimination,” Heat demonstrated that its ComPACT technology secreting the co-stimulator OX40L significantly enhanced tumor rejection in two cancer tumor types (melanoma and colorectal cancer) compared to OX40 agonist antibody treatment. Heat also reported that ComPACT enhanced antigen-specific T cell infiltration into tumors, improved memory T cell responses and demonstrated greater specificity than OX40 agonist antibody treatments. In addition, the findings also showed that the ComPACT platform can be adapted to secrete other costimulatory molecules, including TL1A, 4-1BBL and ICOSL.
“We are pleased to have our work published in ‘Cancer Immunology Research.’ These data suggest that local vaccine co-stimulation has compelling advantages compared to systemic antibody co-stimulation,” said Taylor Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., Heat’s Chief Scientific Officer. “This combination platform provides flexibility to deliver multiple costimulatory ligands, which appear to outperform agonist antibodies in terms of immune response and tumor rejection, warranting further study in human clinical trials.”
The online manuscript is available at the following link: http://cancerimmunolres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2016/06/30/2326-6066.CIR-15-0228.full.pdf+html.
About Heat Biologics, Inc.
Heat Biologics, Inc. (Nasdaq:HTBX) is an immuno-oncology company developing novel therapies that activate a patient’s immune system against cancer. Heat’s highly specific T cell-stimulating platform technologies, ImPACT and ComPACT, form the basis of its product candidates. These platforms, in combination with other therapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are designed to address three distinct but synergistic mechanisms of action: robust activation of CD8+ “killer” T cells (one of the human immune system’s most potent weapons against cancer); reversal of tumor-induced immune suppression; and T cell co-stimulation to further enhance patients’ immune response. Currently, Heat is conducting a Phase 2 trial with its HS-410 (vesigenurtacel-L) in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and a Phase 1b trial with its HS-110 (viagenpumatucel-L) in combination with an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For more information, please visit www.heatbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Heat’s current expectations and projections about future events. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. These statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and include statements regarding the suggestion that local vaccine co-stimulation has compelling advantages compared to systemic antibody co-stimulation, the delivery of multiple costimulatory ligands appears to outperform agonist antibodies in terms of immune response and tumor rejection, the ability to adapt the ComPACT platform to secrete other costimulatory molecules, including TL1A, 4-1BBL and ICOSL, and the potential of Heat’s ImPACT and ComPACT therapies. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict, including the ability of Heat’s ImPACT and ComPACT therapies to perform as designed, the ability to enroll patients and complete the clinical trials on time, the other factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and our other filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release based on new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
CONTACT: Heat Biologics, Inc. Jennifer Almond Investor and Media Relations 919-240-7133 investorrelations@heatbio.com
