Replies to post #787 on Vascular Biogenics Ltd (VBLT)

[wcopeland]

Wow! I am not sold on Nivolumab (Opdivo). I REALLY hope that Nivo is not the checkpoint VBLT tries to pair their eventually combo trial. Pembro (Keytruda) would be a much better option - if PD1/PDL1 checkpoints even matter...

(1) This really sucks for BMY. They just keep losing.
(2) Does this delay other companies that may have given checkpoints a shot in GBM?

Thanks for the share. I feel like there is a lot happening right now that is related to VBLT. It is a welcome change.

[gr8db8]

If I understand their ph2 correctly they did not design it like their ph3 (vs avastin).

If the ph3 trial design was similar to VB-111 then I'm not too surprised that it failed due to its ph2 single-agent results:

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In the single-agent nivolumab arm, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.9 months (95% CI, 1.3-6.5). The median PFS was 2.1 months with N1/I3 (95% CI, 0.5-3.0) and 2.4 months with N3/I1 (95% CI, 1.4-4.7).

http://www.onclive.com/conference-coverage/asco-2016/nivolumab-effective-in-early-stage-study-for-glioblastoma#sthash.ZudtaGVM.dpuf
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This is why Dror kept emphasizing that VBL ph2 and ph3 are very similar (identical?) in design and recruiting standards. Many companies get cute with their ph2 trials (either in design or recruiting, or both) but VBL did not do that.