Benzinga | Jun 18, 2021 07:08AM EDT

BioNTech Starts Dosing In Mid-Stage Melanoma Vaccine Trial

* BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) has dosed the first patient in its Phase 2 trial evaluating the BNT111 cancer vaccine.

* The study evaluates the therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate BNT111 in combination with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:REGN) - Sanofi SA's (NASDAQ:SNY) Libtayo (cemiplimab) in patients with anti-PD1-refractory/relapsed unresectable Stage III-IV melanoma.

* BNT111 is the lead product candidate from BioNTech's FixVac platform that targets a fixed combination of mRNA-encoded, tumor-associated antigens.

* The trial will enroll around 120 patients and evaluate the effects of the combination and single agents alone.

* The primary endpoint is the overall response rate. Secondary endpoints include overall response rate in the single-agent arms, duration of response, and safety.

* Price Action: BNTX shares are down by 0.56% at $213 during the premarket trading session on the last check Friday.