Transgene Launches Invir.IOTM, its Integrated Platform for the Next Generation of Multifunctional Oncolytic Viruses
September 21 2017 - 11:45AM
Business Wire
Regulatory News:
Transgene (Paris:TNG) (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company
that designs and develops viral-based immunotherapies announces the
launch of Invir.IOTM, its new technology platform dedicated to the
design of the next generation of oncolytic viruses. The platform is
based on a proprietary technology. Invir.IOTM will allow Transgene
to generate a variety of multifunctional immunotherapies aimed at
modulating the tumor micro-environment.
A platform to build a portfolio of immunotherapies with
complimentary modes of action
The uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells is made possible
via a number of immunosuppressive mechanisms, which allow the tumor
to escape the immune system. These complex cellular and metabolic
mechanisms occur in the tumor microenvironment. Transgene’s
oncolytic viruses are designed to directly and selectively destroy
cancer cells by the intracellular replication of the virus in the
cancer cell (oncolysis). Oncolysis is important as it induces an
immune response against tumors (immunogenic lysis) that it is
targeting. In addition, the replication of the virus allows the
expression of the genes carried by the oncolytic viral genome
including therapeutic “weapons” that have been specifically
designed to attack the tumor.
Optimized oncolytic viruses to attack the tumor on several
fronts and improve cancer treatments
Most immune effector molecules are very effective locally, but
can be toxic when administered systemically. The local expression
of such therapeutic payloads can significantly augment the
anti-cancer effects of viral oncolysis. This is believed to be the
result of them efficiently modulating the tumor micro-environment,
increasing the immunocompetency of the tumor and at the same time
reducing the systemic exposure to these molecules.
Transgene has already demonstrated that its oncolytic viruses
derived from its new proprietary Invir.IOTM platform attack tumors
on several fronts and can:
- induce an immunogenic cancer cell
death1;
- and express several “anti-cancer
weapons” in the tumor, such as cytokines, chemokines, enzymes
and/or monoclonal antibodies2 or minibodies.
Transgene’s unique know-how will enable the Invir.IOTM platform
to design, produce and develop, in a very efficient way, multiple
product candidates either alone or through partnerships.
Eric Quéméneur, PharmD, PhD, Executive VP, Chief Scientific
Officer of Transgene, said: “With Invir.IOTM, we are
reinforcing our pioneering vision and ambition in the field of
oncolytic viruses. The launch of our new generation of
multifunctional immunotherapies is an important milestone for
Transgene. The large therapeutic payload capacity of our viruses is
a major competitive advantage for us that will allow us to design
and vectorize several weapons that address different pathways in
the tumor microenvironment. The product candidates that we intend
to generate will combine the intrinsic merits of oncolytic viruses
in terms of tumor cell lysis and immune-genesis, with the
properties of the vectorized immuno-modulatory molecules. This
approach is highly customizable, and we look forward to generating
the new generation of oncolytic viruses that we believe will
significantly improve the treatment of multiple aggressive
cancers.”
Transgene’s Invir.IOTM platform is based the Company’s years of
world-leading expertise in molecular virology. Its most advanced
research candidates are based on the Company’s proprietary,
Vaccinia virus strain (VVCOP TK-RR-) which displays the ideal
features of an oncolytic virus such as better tumor selectivity, a
strong ability to induce immunogenic tumor cell death and to
trigger a specific immune response. In addition, its high genome
capacity makes Invir.IOTM the ideal platform for the development of
a pipeline of multifunctional oncolytics.
-End-
Notes to editors
About Invir.IOTMTransgene’s proprietary oncolytic
virus (OV) platform Invir.IOTM allows it to design innovative
multifunctional oncolytic viruses. The platform is among others
based on the Company’s engineered Vaccinia virus strain (VVCOP
TK-RR-) which can integrate a variety of functional transgenes. The
Invir.IOTM platform has already shown that it can generate products
that benefit from multifunctional arming (enzyme, antibody,
cytokine, etc.), that are currently being evaluated in
preclinical.
About TransgeneTransgene S.A. (Euronext: TNG), part of
Institut Mérieux, is a publicly traded French biotechnology company
focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for
the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Transgene’s
programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of
indirectly or directly killing infected or cancerous cells. The
Company’s lead clinical-stage programs are: TG4010, a therapeutic
vaccine against non-small cell lung cancer, Pexa-Vec, an oncolytic
virus against liver cancer, and TG4001, a therapeutic vaccine
against HPV-positive head and neck cancers. The Company has several
other programs in clinical development, including TG1050 (chronic
hepatitis B) and TG6002 (solid tumors). Transgene is based in
Strasbourg, France, and has additional operations in Lyon, as well
as a joint venture in China. Additional information about Transgene
is available at www.transgene.fr.
Follow us on Twitter: @TransgeneSA
DisclaimerThis press release contains forward-looking
statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a
significant negative outcome for the Company’s activities,
perspectives, financial situation, results, regulatory authorities’
agreement with development phases, and development. The Company’s
ability to commercialize its products depends on but is not limited
to the following factors: positive pre-clinical data may not be
predictive of human clinical results, the success of clinical
studies, the ability to obtain financing and/or partnerships for
product manufacturing, development and commercialization, and
marketing approval by government regulatory authorities. For a
discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the
Company’s actual results, financial condition, performance or
achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements, please refer to the Risk Factors (“Facteurs de Risque”)
section of the Document de Référence, available on the AMF website
(http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgene’s website
(www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date on which they are made and Transgene undertakes no obligation
to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information
becomes available in the future.
1 Fend et al., Immune checkpoint blockade, immunogenic
chemotherapy or IFN-α blockade boost the local and abscopal effects
of oncolytic virotherapy, Cancer Research, 2017, 77(15); 4146–572
Kleinpeter et al., Vectorization in an oncolytic vaccinia virus of
an antibody, a Fab and a scFv against programmed cell death -1
(PD-1) allows their intratumoral delivery and an improved
tumor-growth inhibition, OncoImmunology, 2016, 5(10)
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Transgene:Lucie LarguierDirector Corporate
Communications & IR+33 (0)3 88 27 91
04investorrelations@transgene.frorMedia contacts:Citigate
Dewe RogersonDavid Dible/Marine Perrier+ 44 (0)20 7638
9571transgene@citigatedr.co.uk