OncoSec Medical Inc (ONCSQ)

[salgovernale69]

International Society of DNA Vaccines Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Intralesional DNA Immunotherapy: Converting Anti-PD-1 Non-Responders to Responders

Speaker Robert Pierce, PhD Chief Medical Officer, OncoSec

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) inhibiting the T cell immune-inhibitory PD-1 pathway are demonstrating unprecedented durable responses in a variety of solid tumor types, including melanoma, NSCLC, squamous H&N and bladder (ASCO, 2014). In melanoma, the most extensively studied indication for anti-PD-1 mAbs, PD-1 responders appear to be those patients, whose tumors harbor significant numbers of pre-treatment CD8+PD1+ TILs. Conversely, patients who fail to respond to PD-1 mAbs are characterized by low numbers of pre-treatment TILs. These patients constitute the majority (approximately 60-70%) of patients with Stage IV melanoma and represent a tremendous unmet medical need. Data will be presented supporting the TIL-dependent responder hypothesis and the potential of intratumoral therapies to enhance immunogenicity. The future role of intratumoral therapies in driving a de novo TIL response and potentially converting PD-1 mAb non-responders into responders will be discussed.