Benzinga | Nov 8, 2021 08:37AM EST

PDS Biotech Reports Licensing Deal With National Cancer Institute For Intellectual Property Related To NCI's Proprietary Tumor-Associated, Immunologically Active T-Cell Receptor Gamma Alternate Reading Frame Protein, No Terms Disclosed

Advances Next Phase of Versamune(r) Oncology Pipeline

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Nov. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PDS Biotechnology Corporation (NASDAQ:PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing novel cancer therapies based on the Company's proprietary Versamune(r) T-cell activating technology, today announced a licensing agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for intellectual property related to the NCI's proprietary tumor-associated and immunologically active T-cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein (TARP).

Approximately 470,000 patients are diagnosed annually with TARP-associated cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), prostate, and breast cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. In preclinical studies performed by PDS Biotech, the administration of PDS0102, the Versamune(r)-TARP tumor antigen combination, led to the induction of large numbers of tumor targeted killer T-cells. It is important to note, the TARP tumor antigen alone has already been studied at the NCI in men with prostate cancer and been shown to be safe, immunogenic, and associated with slowing tumor growth rates (NCT00972309).



"The highly promising proof-of-concept data presented earlier this year in the advanced HPV cancer trial solidifies our confidence in the Versamune(r) technology to rapidly advance our pipeline into other types of debilitating cancers," said Dr. Lauren V. Wood, PDS Biotech's Chief Medical Officer. "We are excited about the potential of PDS0102, which leverages the Versamune(r) platform to improve on the results reported in humans with the NCI's TARP antigen alone."

The worldwide, non-exclusive license secures rights for the proprietary TARP antigen from the NCI with patent protection through 2034.