RNS: 07.00, 2 August 2024

NetScientific plc

PDS Biotech Aligns with FDA on Phase 3 Trial in HPV16-Positive First-Line Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Aligns with FDA on Phase 3 Trial in HPV16-Positive First-Line Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Expanded Global Intellectual Property Surrounding Versamune® Platform

NetScientific Plc (AIM: NSCI), the deep tech and life sciences VC investment group, reports that its portfolio company, PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), in which it holds a 3% direct holding, has announced that it has received the official minutes from its meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") regarding next steps in its planned Phase 3 clinical trial of its Versamune^® based investigational immunotherapy designed to stimulate a targeted T cell attack against HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ("HNSCC").

PDS Biotech presented the FDA with recent data from both the VERSATILE-002 study of Versamune^® HPV + pembrolizumab, and the triple combination of Versamune^® HPV + PDS01ADC + bintrafusp alfa. The Company also provided an updated design of the Phase 3 VERSATILE-003 trial of Versamune^® HPV + pembrolizumab which included updated statistical endpoints based on recent and more mature survival data. PDS Biotech proposed the addition of a third arm to the study which would be a triple combination of Versamune^® HPV + PDS01ADC + pembrolizumab. The first part of the study would therefore involve a dose optimization of PDS01ADC in the novel combination. 

The FDA supported the strategy and development of the double and triple combinations. Also, the FDA requested additional safety analysis in the lead-in PDS01ADC dose optimization part of the study. To avoid potential delays in initiating the randomized trial, the FDA agreed that the dose optimization should be done separately and the registrational trial of the revised 2-arm double combination trial, VERSATILE-003, should proceed. The Versamune^® HPV + pembrolizumab combination has received Fast Track designation.

Frank Bedu-Addo, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of PDS Biotech said:

"We appreciate the FDA's support in the development of both the double and triple Versamune® HPV-based combinations. We are also pleased to have aligned on initiating the updated VERSATILE-003 study. The VERSATILE-002 results have matured significantly and positively over the last year, allowing us to revise the statistical endpoints of the study to provide additional robustness to the study design. We continue to believe that the combination, based on encouraging survival, disease control response rates and safety has the potential to significantly advance the treatment of HPV16-positive HNSCC. Our goal now is to investigate Versamune® HPV + pembrolizumab's potential as the first targeted immunotherapy for HPV16-positive HNSCC. The addition of PDS01ADC in the future has the potential to provide further clinical benefit to an effective targeted immunotherapy."

Kirk Shepard, MD, Chief Medical Officer, continued:

"We have contracted with a clinical research organization and the preparatory work is advancing to begin enrolment in the VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 clinical trial in first-line treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive HNSCC, with overall survival as the study's primary endpoint. Our VERSATILE-003 trial has significant key opinion leader support, including from the investigators involved in VERSATILE-002, and we have lined up a significant number of the target sites that have indicated strong interest in participating in the trial."

A full version of PDS Biotech's announcement can be accessed here: 

https://pdsbiotech.com/index.php/investors/news-center/press-releases/press-releases1/131-2024-news/933-iotechlignswithonhase3rialin16osit20240801

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About NetScientific

NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI) is a deep tech and life sciences VC investment group with an international portfolio of innovative companies.

NetScientific identifies, invests in, and builds high growth companies in the UK and internationally.

The company adds value through the proactive management of its portfolio, progressing to key value inflection points, and delivering investment returns through partial or full liquidity events.

NetScientific differentiates itself by employing a capital-efficient investment approach, making judicial use of its balance sheet and syndicating investments through its wholly owned VC subsidiary, EMV Capital. The group secures a mixture of direct equity stakes and carried interest stakes in its portfolio of companies, creating a lean structure that can support a large portfolio.

NetScientific is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and is admitted to trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.

www.netscientific.net

About PDS Biotechnology

PDS Biotechnology is a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines. The Company plans to initiate a pivotal clinical trial in 2024 to advance its lead program in advanced HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell cancers. PDS Biotech's lead investigational targeted immunotherapy Versamune^® HPV is being developed in combination with a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor, and also in a triple combination including PDS01ADC, an IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate (ADC), and a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor.

www.pdsbiotech.com.