NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[ATLnsider]

When we take a closer look at the UCLA - Merck Phase I clinical trial for recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (rGBM), with a treatment that combines an autologous tumor lysate-pulsed (ATL)-dendritic cell (DC) vaccine with Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), we can see the obvious fact that ATL-DC is the generic name for DCVax-L.

DCVax-L is the trademarked name for NWBio’s autologous tumor lysate (ATL) dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. ATL-DC is the generic name for DCVax-L. NWBio is not producing DCVax-L for this UCLA trial, through its commercial CMOs (Cognate & Advent Bioservices). This is a small Phase I clinical trial with only 40 patients, and there is only 1 clinical trial site (UCLA). There is no need for large-scale commercial production capacity for this trial. UCLA has the production capacity to make the vaccines on-site, in its own laboratory.

I personally believe that UCLA, Merck & NWBio want to purposely hide, obscure & downplay the connections between the 3 entities, and hide this DCVax-L + Keytruda combination clinical trial in plain sight. This allows NWBio to focus on releasing TLD, and prevent Merck & NWBio from having to answer questions about the interest they may have in each other.

Take a look at how DCVax-L is described and named in the 2018 Journal of Translational Medicine article by Liau et. al., that published the interim blinded and blended results for the DCVax-L Phase III trial. Also, take a look at how ATL-DC is described and named on the clinical trials.org website. The 2 are exactly the same: