PDS Biotechnology Corp. (PDSB) – New PDS0301 Combination Data To Be Presented


Tuesday, July 18, 2023

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

First Data From Prostate Cancer. PDS announced that it will present interim data from its first trial testing PDS301 with docetaxel (Taxotere) in prostate cancer patients. The presentation will be at the International Cytokine and Interferon Society annual meeting in October 2023. We see acceptance of the PDS0301 data for presentation as positive sign for proof-of-concept and expansion into new indications.

Data Will Be From A Dose-Finding Trial To Establish Responses and Safety. The trial tests the combination of PDS0301 with docetaxel in metastatic prostate cancer. The regimen was given in 3-week cycles consisting of a standard dose of docetaxel with one of three dose levels of PDS0301. The presentation abstract is based on safety, immune responses, and clinical activity data from 18 patients.


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Release – PDS Biotech Announces Acceptance of Abstract on Combination of PDS0301 with Docetaxel in Metastatic Prostate Cancer for Oral Presentation by the National Cancer Institute at Cytokines 2023

Research News and Market Data on PDSB



First clinical study of immunocytokine with docetaxel in prostate cancer patients

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T cell activating technologies, today announced that an abstract reporting on interim data from a first-in-human clinical trial evaluating the combination of PDS0301, an IL-12-based immunocytokine, with the chemotherapy medication docetaxel has been accepted for oral presentation at the 11th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society (Cytokines 2023).

The abstract, titled, “Combining an IL-12-based Immunocytokine (PDS0301) with Docetaxel in Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Preliminary Safety and Immune Data”, will report interim safety and immune data on 18 patients in the clinical trial being led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The trial is investigating the safety, immune responses and clinical activity of PDS0301 and docetaxel in metastatic castration-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. The study is designed to evaluate three dose levels of PDS0301 (8 mcg/kg, 12 mcg/kg, and 16.8 mcg/kg) in combination with docetaxel (75 mg/m2) administered every three weeks.

“We look forward to Dr. Ravi Madan’s presentation of the interim safety, clinical outcomes and immune correlates for PDS0301 administered in combination with standard of care docetaxel in patients with advanced prostate cancer,” stated Dr. Lauren V. Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. “This clinical trial provides an important opportunity to investigate the potential of PDS0301 combined with docetaxel chemotherapy to offer improved treatment options for patients with metastatic castration-sensitive and castration-resistant forms of prostate cancer. The results of this study could provide insight into the potential use of PDS0301 with chemotherapy across multiple solid tumors.”

Abstract Title: Combining an IL-12-based Immunocytokine (PDS0301) with Docetaxel in Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Preliminary Safety and Immune Data
Paper Number: 249
Presenting Author: Head, Prostate Cancer Clinical Research Section, Ravi A. Madan
Authors: Renee Donahue, Yo-Ting Tsai, Mohammad O. Atiq, Elias Chandran, Luke Meininger, Fatima Karzai, Marijo Bilusic, Jennifer Marte, Philip M. Arlen, Lisa Cordes, Megan Hausler, Amy Hankin, Nikki Williams, William D. Figg, Jeff Schlom, James L. Gulley, Ravi A. Madan
Session Details: Plenary 3: Cytokines in Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy, Mittwoch; Olympia A+B
Session Date and Time: October 18, 2023, 10:00-10:15

For patients interested in enrolling in this clinical trial, please contact NCI’s toll-free number 1-800-4-Cancer (1-800-422-6237) (TTY:  1-800-332-8615) and/or the Web site:  https://trials.cancer.gov and/or NCIMO_referrals@mail.nih.gov.

About PDS0301
PDS0301 is a novel investigational tumor-targeting antibody-conjugated Interleukin 12 (IL-12) that enhances the proliferation, potency and longevity of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells in the tumor microenvironment. PDS0301 is given by subcutaneous injection and is designed to improve the safety profile of IL-12 and to enhance the anti-tumor response.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in 2023. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Versamune® is a registered trademark and Infectimune™ is a trademark of PDS Biotechnology.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.,
Rahway, N.J., USA.

Investor Contacts:
Deanne Randolph
PDS Biotech
Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613
Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com

Rich Cockrell
CG Capital
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838
Email: pdsb@cg.capital

Media Contacts:
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Dave Schemelia
Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325
dschemelia@tiberend.com

Eric Reiss
Phone: +1 (802) 249-1136
ereiss@tiberend.com

Release – PDS Biotech Strengthens Intellectual Property Portfolio Governing A Combination of Versamune® and PDS0301

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

  • Composition of matter and use patent for Versamune® in combination with PDS0301 allowed in Canada
  • PDS Biotech’s proprietary combination of Versamune® based PDS0101 and PDS0301 with an immune checkpoint inhibitor resulted in 21 months median overall survival in advanced HPV-positive cancer patients who had failed all prior treatments including immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, today announced the Canadian Intellectual Property Office has allowed patent number 2,876,656 titled, “Cationic Lipid Vaccine Combinations and Methods of Use,” governing composition of matter and uses for Versamune® (R-DOTAP) in combination with PDS0301. The intellectual property provides broad protection for treatments utilizing Versamune® based therapies, including PDS0101, in combination with PDS0301 as a potential treatment for cancer. This patent expands PDS Biotech’s market coverage and adds to the world-wide patent portfolio including the patent granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), U.S. Patent No. 11,401,306, covering the combination of Versamune® and cytokines including Interleukin 12 (IL-12).

The Canadian patent will protect the capability of the composition of Versamune® and PDS0301 to reduce the population of a well-documented population of cells called myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) that enable the cancer to escape attack by T cells. The composition, when administered with a tumor antigen, enhances the Versamune® induced anti-tumor response. Suppression of anti-tumor immune responses is a major mechanism by which tumor cells escape attack by T cells. MDSCs are reported to be the key immunosuppressive cells present in the tumor that protect the cancer’s ability to grow and are a major obstacle to effective cancer immunotherapy.

“This newly allowed patent adds to the intellectual property governing Versamune® based therapies in combination with PDS0301, which we believe represent a potentially transformative treatment approach for advanced cancer patients,” said Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, CEO of PDS Biotech. “Possessing multilayered IP for our immunotherapies is an important value driver for PDS Biotech and is a key component of our business strategy. We anticipate that Canada will constitute an important market as we begin our commercialization and partnership strategies.”

In December 2022, PDS Biotech provided an update on the National Cancer Institute led study of a combination of PDS0101, PDS0301 and an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in patients with various types of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16-positive cancers who had failed all prior treatments including ICI therapy. These patients have a historical median overall survival (OS) of 3-4 months on ICI therapy. This combination achieved a median overall survival of 21 months reported in 29 patients. In the patients who had not received prior ICI therapy, median OS had not yet been reached at 27 months, and an objective response rate of 88% (7/8) and complete response in 38% (3/8) of patients was reported. In similar ICI naïve patients on a combination of ICI therapy and chemotherapy, the published median OS is approximately 13 months and objective response is approximately 35%. Similar results with the combination of PDS0101, PDS0301 and an ICI were seen in all types of HPV-positive advanced cancers including anal, cervical, head and neck, vaginal and vulvar.

PDS Biotech’s exclusive rights to the combination of PDS0101 and PDS0301 permits it to design compositions and methods that overcome tumor immune suppression utilizing a different mechanism from checkpoint inhibitors.

About Versamune®
Versamune® is a novel investigational T cell activating platform which effectively stimulates a precise immune system response to a cancer-specific protein. Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies promote a potent targeted T cell attack against cancers expressing the protein. They are given by subcutaneous injection and can be combined with standard of care treatments. Clinical data suggest that Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies, such as PDS0101, demonstrate meaningful disease control by reducing and shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression and/or prolonging survival. Versamune® based immunotherapies have demonstrated minimal toxicity to date that may allow them to be safely combined with other treatments. We believe Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies represent a transformative treatment approach for cancer patients to provide improved efficacy, safety and tolerability.

About PDS0101
PDS0101, PDS Biotech’s lead candidate, is a novel investigational human papillomavirus (HPV)-targeted immunotherapy that stimulates a potent targeted T cell attack against HPV-positive cancers. PDS0101 is given by subcutaneous injection alone or in combination with other immunotherapies and cancer treatments. In a Phase 1 study of PDS0101 in monotherapy, the treatment demonstrated the ability to generate multifunctional HPV16 targeted CD8 and CD4 T cells with minimal toxicity. Interim data suggests PDS0101 generates clinically effective immune responses and the combination of PDS0101 with other treatments can demonstrate significant disease control by reducing or shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression, and/or prolonging survival. The combination of PDS0101 with other treatments does not appear to compound the toxicity of other agents.

About PDS0301
PDS0301 is a novel investigational tumor-targeting antibody-conjugated Interleukin 12 (IL-12) that enhances the proliferation, potency and longevity of T cells in the tumor microenvironment. PDS0301 is given by a subcutaneous injection. PDS0301 is designed to improve the safety profile of IL-12 and to enhance the anti-tumor response.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS0301, and Infectimune T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16- associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in 2023. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Versamune® is a registered trademark and Infectimune™ is a trademark of PDS Biotechnology.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.,
Rahway, N.J., USA.

Investor Contacts:
Deanne Randolph
PDS Biotech
Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613
Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com

Rich Cockrell
CG Capital
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838
Email: pdsb@cg.capital

Media Contacts:
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Dave Schemelia
Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325
dschemelia@tiberend.com

Eric Reiss
Phone: +1 (802) 249-1136
ereiss@tiberend.com

Release – PDS Biotech to be Added to Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes Effective June 26, 2023

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., June 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corp. (NASDAQ: PDSB), a clinical-stage company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, announced today its expected addition to the broad-market Russell 2000® and the Russell 3000® Indexes in accordance with the 2023 Russell indexes annual reconstitution. PDS Biotech’s anticipated inclusion in the Russell indexes will be effective after the U.S. market opens on Monday, June 26, 2023.

“The expected addition of PDS Biotech to the Russell indexes is the latest milestone during a year in which we have made considerable progress with our lead candidate, PDS0101, including the presentation of promising interim data from the VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 clinical trial at ASCO 2023, and expanded our product portfolio and clinical pipeline with the acquisition of PDS0301,” stated Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, President and CEO of PDS Biotech. “The Russell indexes are widely used investment benchmarks for index funds and active portfolio strategies. Our inclusion is an important validation and should help our efforts to propel long-term shareholder value, expand awareness of PDS Biotech within the investment community, increase the liquidity of our stock, and broaden our shareholder base.”

The annual reconstitution of the Russell indexes is conducted by FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider, and captures the 4,000 largest U.S. equities as of April 28, 2023, objectively ranking them by total market capitalization and style attributes. Membership in the U.S. all-cap Russell 3000 Index remains in place for one year and means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. Inclusion in the Russell 3000 Index also means automatic inclusion in either the large-cap Russell 1000® Index or the small-cap Russell 2000 Index. Approximately $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s U.S. indexes.

About FTSE Russell
FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics, and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $20.1 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers, and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products, and index-based derivatives. FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in 2023. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political, and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contacts:
Deanne Randolph
PDS Biotech
Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613  
Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com    

Rich Cockrell  
CG Capital  
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838  
Email: pdsb@cg.capital  

Media Contacts:  
Dave Schemelia  
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. 
Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325  
Email: dschemelia@tiberend.com  

Bill Borden  
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.  
Phone: +1 (732) 910-1620  
Email: bborden@tiberend.com

PDS Biotechnology Corp. (PDSB) – Answering Questions About The VERSATILE-002 Data


Friday, June 16, 2023

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

The Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 Trial Remains Misunderstood. We have received inquiries from investors about the data in the recent ASCO presentation by PDS Biotech. We believe there is some misunderstanding of the trial design, outcome data, and the trial’s definition of efficacy. In view of the fundamental progress and stock price decline, we believe this is a buying opportunity.

Trial Data Has Led To Misinterpretation. The Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial has a primary endpoint of best overall response rate (ORR). To be considered a responder, patients need to have tumor shrinkage of at least 30% in two MRI scans. Patients with one positive scan are considered unconfirmed responses until they have a second confirming scan at least 9 weeks later. Both confirmed and unconfirmed responses were reported at the recent ASCO conference.


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PDS Biotechnology Corp. (PDSB) – Reiterating Outperform – Phase 2 Trial Meets Efficacy Endpoint


Thursday, June 15, 2023

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

ASCO Efficacy Data Has Been Updated. PDS Bioscience announced that the Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial has met the threshold for efficacy. This is good news for the trial and should help clarify misunderstandings of the data presented at the ASCO conference earlier this month. The Phase 3 trial is expected to begin in 3Q23.

New Data Should Clarify Trial Results.  In our June Research Note, we discussed data from the VERSATILE-002 trial presented at the ASCO annual meeting. This presentation showed a 12-month survival rate of 87% and a progression-free survival rate of 10.4 months. Responses were determined by the RECIST 1.1 criteria, requiring 30% tumor shrinkage. According to the trial protocols, responses seen in the first scan were considered unconfirmed responses until a second confirmatory scan 9 weeks later.


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Release – PDS Biotechnology Announces Achievement of Efficacy Threshold in Stage 2 of the VERSATILE-002 Trial Evaluating PDS0101 and KEYTRUDA® in Head and Neck Cancer

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

  • 14 patients in the immune checkpoint inhibitor naïve arm of VERSATILE-002 have experienced either a complete response or partial response on two consecutive scans, thus constituting a confirmed objective response
  • Efficacy and safety continue to be monitored as additional patients have yet to undergo imaging evaluation

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., June 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, announced today the Company achieved the threshold for efficacy as per investigator assessment in Stage 2 of the VERSATILE-002 (NCT04260126) Phase 2 clinical trial investigating PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), for the treatment of unresectable, recurrent or metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV)16-positive head and neck cancer. The achievement of full recruitment of 54 patients in the ICI naïve arm was announced in May 2023. The threshold for efficacy, as defined in the clinical protocol, was achieved when 14 out of the 54 immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) naïve patients enrolled achieved a confirmed objective response. Additional patients in the trial have yet to undergo imaging evaluation. 

Per RECIST 1.1, the standard to classify oncologic imaging outcomes in clinical trials, patients are considered to have achieved an objective response when imaging studies document tumor shrinkage of 30% or more. In VERSATILE-002, the primary endpoint requires two consecutive scans 9 to 12 weeks apart, rather than one, to be considered a confirmed objective response. Confirmation with two consecutive scans is not required to achieve an objective response in every clinical trial per RECIST 1.1.

At the recent 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, we presented data showing 9 confirmed responses among 34 evaluable patients.  Median progression-free survival (PFS) of 10.4 months was also presented at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting along with a 12-month overall survival (OS) rate of 87.1% for patients with a CPS≥1. Additional patients have been assessed since data was presented at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting. With these additional data, a total of 14 patients have now achieved a confirmed response to date.   The achievement of this endpoint suggests an additive effect of PDS0101 over published results with ICI monotherapy and is based on statistical calculations using the appropriate power and alpha.

The primary endpoint in the VERSATILE-002 study is the best overall response (BOR) of confirmed complete response (CR) or confirmed partial response (PR) per RECIST 1.1. The key secondary endpoints are progression-free survival (PFS), OS at 12 and 24 months, safety, and tolerability. The study utilizes a Simon’s 2-stage optimum design.

“We are highly encouraged by the growing set of PDS0101 efficacy and safety data being generated in multiple independent trials by leading experts in the field,” stated Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, President and Chief Executive Officer of PDS Biotech. “The consistency in PDS0101 induced HPV16-specific immune responses, the response rates and survival benefit observed in multiple types of HPV cancer and at different stages of disease, aligns with both the preclinical and Phase 1 monotherapy results. Multiple studies have demonstrated the induction of high levels of active and potent, HPV16-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells, as well as long-lasting memory CD8 T cells by PDS0101.” 

“Achieving the efficacy threshold in VERSATILE-002 is an important milestone for the Company, especially as it has been achieved ahead of the full efficacy evaluation for this cohort,” stated Dr. Lauren V. Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. “With our Phase 2 trial near completion, and our planned global Phase 3 confirmatory randomized, controlled trial, VERSATILE-003, actively advancing, we believe we are closer to our goal of providing a well-tolerated, safe and effective therapy for those who suffer from head and neck cancer, a critical unmet medical need.”

PDS Biotech plans to initiate the VERSATILE-003 as a result of the successful completion of an End-of-Phase 2 meeting in the third quarter of 2022 with the FDA, during which PDS Biotech received guidance on key elements of the Phase 3 program that will support the submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA). The planned primary endpoints for VERSATILE-003 are OS and PFS. In preparation for the VERSATILE-003 trial, PDS Biotech plans to submit an amended Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA in the third quarter of 2023.

About PDS0101
PDS0101, PDS Biotech’s lead candidate, is a novel investigational human papillomavirus (HPV)-targeted immunotherapy that stimulates a potent targeted T cell attack against HPV-positive cancers. PDS0101 is given by subcutaneous injection alone or in combination with other immunotherapies and cancer treatments. In a Phase 1 study of PDS0101 in monotherapy, the treatment demonstrated the ability to generate multifunctional HPV16-targeted CD8 and CD4 T cells with minimal toxicity. Interim data suggests PDS0101 generates clinically effective immune responses and the combination of PDS0101 with other treatments can demonstrate significant disease control by reducing or shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression, and/or prolonging survival. The combination of PDS0101 with other treatments does not appear to compound the toxicity of other agents.

About VERSATILE-002 

VERSATILE-002 is a single-arm Phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of PDS0101, an HPV16-targeted investigational T cell-activating immunotherapy that leverages PDS Biotech’s proprietary Versamune® technology, in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab). The combination is being evaluated in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-naïve and ICI-refractory patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and was granted Fast Track designation by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2022.   

Interim efficacy and safety data were presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting for ICI-naïve patients (PR link). Preliminary data from the first 34 patients demonstrated a 12-month overall survival rate of 87% and median progression free survival of 10.4 months. No Grade 4 or higher treatment related adverse events were observed.

KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.,
Rahway, NJ, USA.

 About VERSATILE-003 

VERSATILE-003 is a randomized, controlled Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) versus KEYTRUDA® monotherapy. The combination is being evaluated in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-naïve patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and was granted Fast Track designation by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2022.  

About Versamune®
Versamune® is a novel investigational T cell activating platform which effectively stimulates a precise immune system response to a cancer-specific protein. Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies promote a potent targeted T cell attack against cancers expressing the protein. They are given by subcutaneous injection and can be combined with standard of care treatments. Clinical data suggest that Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies, such as PDS0101, demonstrate meaningful disease control by reducing and shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression and/or prolonging survival. Versamune® based immunotherapies have demonstrated minimal toxicity to date that may allow them to be safely combined with other treatments. We believe Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies represent a transformative treatment approach for cancer patients to provide improved efficacy, safety and tolerability.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in 2023.   Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech. 

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.    
Versamune® is a registered trademark and Infectimune™ is a trademark of PDS Biotechnology.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA.

Investor Contacts:
Deanne Randolph
PDS Biotech
Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613
Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com

Rich Cockrell
CG Capital
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838
Email: pdsb@cg.capital

Media Contacts: 
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Dave Schemelia 
Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325 
dschemelia@tiberend.com

Bill Borden 
Phone: +1 (732) 910-1620 
bborden@tiberend.com

PDS Biotechnology Corp. (PDSB) – Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 Data Reviewed On Conference Call


Wednesday, June 07, 2023

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

ASCO Presentation On Head and Neck Cancer Reviewed. PDS Biotechnology held a conference call to review data from the Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial that was presented at the annual ASCO meeting on Monday, June 5. Management also briefly commented on a misinterpretation posted on social media sites that caused a sharp price decline and a trading halt in the stock.

VERSATILE-002 Data Consistent With Previous Results. As discussed in our Research Note from May 30, the presentation updated the Phase 2 VERSATILE trial data presented at ASCO ’22. At that time, preliminary data from the first 17 patients to reach the 9-month evaluation post was presented. The update included data from 34 patients that had reached the 12-month evaluation point. 


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Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – PDS Biotechnology Post-ASCO Conference Call Tomorrow, June 6, at 8 a.m. ET

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., June 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, today announced that the Company will be hosting a conference call and webcast tomorrow, June 6, 2023, to discuss the promising interim data from the VERSATILE-002 (NCT04260126) Phase 2 clinical trial investigating PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), presented at the 2023 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting.

During the call, management will provide an in-depth review of the 2023 ASCO interim data.

Conference Call Information:
PDS Biotech will host a conference call on Tuesday, June 6, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the interim data being presented at the ASCO 2023 Annual Meeting. A live webcast of the event will be available online at PDS Biotech Post-ASCO Webcast. The event will be archived in the investor relations section of PDS Biotech’s website for six months.

Additionally, interested participants and investors may access the conference call by dialing either 877-407-3088 (US) or 201-389-0927 (International).

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in 2023. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech. 

Investor Relations:
Deanne Randolph
PDS Biotech
Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613
Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com

Rich Cockrell
CG Capital
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838
Email: pdsb@cg.capital

Media Contacts:
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Dave Schemelia
Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325
dschemelia@tiberend.com

Bill Borden
Phone: +1 (732) 910-1620
bborden@tiberend.com

PDS Biotechnology Corp. (PDSB) – ASCO Abstracts Show Continued Efficacy and Durability


Tuesday, May 30, 2023

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® and Infectimune™ T-cell activating technology platforms. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The Company’s pipeline products address various cancers including HPV16-associated cancers (anal, cervical, head and neck, penile, vaginal, vulvar) and breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

ASCO Abstracts Contain Positive Data Update. On Friday, May 26, abstracts for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) were released. As we expected, the data update from the Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial showed consistent or improved response rates, overall survival, and progression free survival, with continued safety and tolerability. We believe these data support our expectations of efficacy in the Phase 3 trial, expected to begin in late 2023.

Data Updates Confirm and Support Preliminary Findings. The abstract contains updated interim results from the Phase 2 VERSATILE-002 trial testing the combination of PDS0101 with Keytruda (an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor from Merck). The data presentation will include 34 patients that have reached the 12-month evaluation point, compared with the data from 17 patients evaluated after 9 months presented at ASCO 2022. These new data show strong improvements over ICI monotherapy, the current standard of care, as well as efficacy and strong duration of benefits. 


Get the Full Report

Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.

This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – PDS Biotech Announces Interim Data Demonstrates 12-Month Survival Rate of 87% with PDS0101 in Combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

  • Interim data being presented at ASCO 2023 Annual Meeting
  • Demonstrated median progression-free survival (PFS) of 10.4 months
  • Demonstrated 12-month overall survival (OS) rate of 87.1%
  • A disease control rate (disease stabilization or tumor shrinkage) of 70.6%
  • Median overall survival not yet met

Company to host conference call and webcast on June 6, 2023, at 8:00 am ET

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, announced promising interim data from the VERSATILE-002 (NCT04260126) Phase 2 clinical trial investigating PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), in patients with unresectable, recurrent or metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV)16-positive head and neck cancer. The results will be featured in a poster presentation and in a head and neck cancer expert panel discussion at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting being held June 2-6 in Chicago.

The presentation, titled “Safety and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Naïve Cohort from Study of PDS0101 and Pembrolizumab in HPV16-positive Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)” (Abstract #6012), concluded that the combination was well tolerated, and the results justify a global confirmatory randomized, controlled study, VERSATILE-003, which PDS Biotech is planning to initiate this year. The study’s 48 ICI naïve participants, 94% of whom were male with a median age of 62.5, received at least one cycle of the combination arm, 56.3% received four doses, and 22.9% received five doses.

In measuring the efficacy of PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA®, the abstract highlights the following interim data:

  • Estimated 12-month overall survival rate was 87.1%. Published results are 36-50% with approved ICIs used alone*.
  • Median progression-free survival was 10.4 months (95% CI 4.2, 15.3). Published results are median PFS of 2-3 months for approved ICIs when used as monotherapy in patients with similar PD-L1 levels*.
  • A disease control rate (disease stabilization or tumor shrinkage) of 70.6% (24/34)
  • Confirmed and unconfirmed objective response rate was 41.2% (14/34 patients), which is identical to the preliminary response rate data PDS Biotech previously reported at ASCO 2022 (7/17 patients). To date these responses have been confirmed in nine of the 34 patients (26.5%), including one complete response.
  • 15/34 patients (44.1%) had stable disease.
  • 9/34 patients (26.5%) had progressive disease.
  • 4/48 (8.3%) of patients had a Grade 3 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE). No Grade 4 or higher TRAEs were observed.

VERSATILE-002 is a Phase 2, open-label, multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of PDS0101 administered in combination with KEYTRUDA® in adults with HPV16-positive unresectable, recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. VERSATILE-002 is investigating two patient populations of HPV16-positive head and neck cancer patients whose cancer has returned or spread. Interim data from the first group, which had not been previously treated with an ICI (ICI naïve), is the focus of the ASCO poster presentation and follow-up discussion among a panel of head and neck cancer experts. The second group of patients had previously failed treatments including ICI therapy (ICI refractory).

“We are pleased to present updated survival data from VERSATILE-002, which suggest the addition of PDS0101 to KEYTRUDA® may improve survival for the growing number of HPV16-positive head and neck cancer patients,” said Katharine A. Price, MD, Associate Professor, Oncology Head and Neck Disease Group, Mayo Clinic and presenting author of the study.

“The interim data showed an estimated 12-month survival rate of 87% and a progression-free survival of 10.4 months, which is very encouraging given the poor prognosis these patients face,” stated Lauren V. Wood, M.D., PDS Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer and a co-author of the study. “Furthermore, we remain encouraged by the safety profile of PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA®, with only 8% of patients experiencing a Grade 3 treatment-related adverse event without more serious Grade 4 or 5 events. We believe these data are encouraging for HNSCC patients and indicate that the addition of the HPV16-targeted immunotherapy PDS0101 to KEYTRUDA® should be further evaluated for its potential to enhance survival in HPV16-positive head and neck cancer patients.”

The research was authored by Katharine Price, M.D., Mayo Clinic; John Michael Kaczmar, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina; Francis Worden, M.D., University of Michigan Health; Marya Chaney, Ph.D., Merck & Co. Inc.; Jared Weiss, M.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and PDS Biotech’s Lauren V. Wood, M.D; David Schaaf, M.D.; and Nathalie Riebel.

Details of the presentation are as follows:

Abstract Number: 6012

Abstract Title: Safety and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Naïve Cohort from Study of PDS0101 and Pembrolizumab in HPV16-Positive Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Presenting Author: Katharine Price, M.D., Co-chair, Head and Neck Disease Group, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center

Session Title: Head and Neck Cancer

Poster Presentation: Monday, June 5, 2023, 1:15 PM-4:15 PM CDT

Head and Neck Cancer Poster Discussion Session: Monday, June 5, 2023, 4:30 PM-6:00 PM CDT

Conference Call Information:

PDS Biotech will host a conference call on Tuesday, June 6, at 8:00 a.m. EDT to discuss the interim data being presented at the ASCO 2023 Annual Meeting. A live webcast of the event will be available online at PDS Biotech Post-ASCO Webcast. The event will be archived in the investor relations section of PDS Biotech’s website for six months.

Additionally, interested participants and investors may access the conference call by dialing either 877-407-3088 (US) or 201-389-0927 (International).

*No control or comparative studies have been conducted between immune checkpoint inhibitors and PDS0101; Ferris R.L., Nivolumab for Recurrent Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; N Engl J Med 2016; 375:1856-1867; Burtness B et al., Pembrolizumab alone or with chemotherapy versus cetuximab with chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE- 048): a randomized, open-label phase 3 study; Lancet 2019; 394(10212):1915-1928
https://www.opdivo.com/head-and-neck-cancer
https://www.keytruda.com/head-and-neck-cancer/keytruda-clinical-trials/

About PDS0101
PDS0101, PDS Biotech’s lead candidate, is a novel investigational human papillomavirus (HPV)-targeted immunotherapy that stimulates a potent targeted T cell attack against HPV-positive cancers. PDS0101 is given by subcutaneous injection alone or in combination with other immunotherapies and cancer treatments. In a Phase 1 study of PDS0101 in monotherapy, the treatment demonstrated the ability to generate multifunctional HPV16-targeted CD8 and CD4 T cells with minimal toxicity. Interim data suggests PDS0101 generates clinically effective immune responses and the combination of PDS0101 with other treatments can demonstrate significant disease control by reducing or shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression, and/or prolonging survival. The combination of PDS0101 with other treatments does not appear to compound the toxicity of other agents.

About VERSATILE-002
VERSATILE-002 is a single-arm Phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of PDS0101, an HPV16-targeted investigational T cell-activating immunotherapy that leverages PDS Biotech’s proprietary Versamune® technology, in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab). The combination is being evaluated in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-naïve and ICI-refractory patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and was granted Fast Track designation by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2022.   

Interim efficacy and safety data will be presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting for ICI-naïve patients. Preliminary data from the first 34 patients demonstrated a 12-month overall survival rate of 87% and median progression free survival of 10.4 months. No Grade 4 or higher treatment related adverse events were observed.

KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

About Versamune®
Versamune® is a novel investigational T-cell activating platform which effectively stimulates a precise immune system response to a cancer-specific protein. Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies promote a potent targeted T cell attack against cancers expressing the protein. They are given by subcutaneous injection and can be combined with standard-of-care treatments. Clinical data suggest that Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies, such as PDS0101, demonstrate meaningful disease control by reducing and shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression, and/or prolonging survival. Versamune® based immunotherapies have demonstrated minimal toxicity to date that may allow them to be safely combined with other treatments. We believe Versamune® based investigational immunotherapies represent a transformative treatment approach for cancer patients to provide improved efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in 2023. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech. 

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  

Versamune® is a registered trademark and Infectimune™ is a trademark of PDS Biotechnology.

Investor Contacts:
Deanne Randolph
PDS Biotech
Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613
Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com

Rich Cockrell
CG Capital
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838
Email: pdsb@cg.capital

Media Contacts: 
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Dave Schemelia 
Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325 
dschemelia@tiberend.com

Bill Borden 
Phone: +1 (732) 910-1620 
bborden@tiberend.com

News From the Biotech Sector has become Increasingly Rewarding

2023 May Be the Year the Biotech Sector Cures Itself of Malaise

A pivotal point for biotech stocks seems to have been reached. It’s almost mid-2023, and barely a week goes by without news driving a biotech company’s stock price upward to gain returns that one would expect to take years to achieve in a broad basket index position. The most recent news causing this price action is yet another clinical-stage therapeutic company. Shares of PDS Biotech are up 27% since yesterday and 41% month-to date. This week’s move is attributable the company reporting positive trial results.

PDS Biotechnology (PDSB) is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company with a developing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease.

The impetus for the price move was the announcement of interim data from a Phase 2 trial investigating its PDS0101 in combination with Merck’s  KEYTRUDA®. The trials were in patients with unresectable, recurrent or metastatic human papillomavirus head and neck cancers.

The results were quite positive and will be featured in a poster presentation and in a head and neck cancer expert panel discussion at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting being held June 2-6 in Chicago.

These are highlights of the results showing the interim data of the efficacy of PDS Bio’s PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA®:

The estimated 12-month overall survival rate was 87.1%. Published results are 36-50% with approved ICIs used alone*.

  • Median progression-free survival was 10.4 months (95% CI 4.2, 15.3). Published results are median PFS of 2-3 months for approved ICIs when used as monotherapy in patients with similar PD-L1 levels*.
  • A disease control rate (disease stabilization or tumor shrinkage) of 70.6% (24/34)
  • Confirmed and unconfirmed objective response rate was 41.2% (14/34 patients), which is identical to the preliminary response rate data PDS Biotech previously reported at ASCO 2022 (7/17 patients). To date these responses have been confirmed in nine of the 34 patients (26.5%), including one complete response.
  • 15/34 patients (44.1%) had stable disease.
  • 9/34 patients (26.5%) had progressive disease.
  • 4/48 (8.3%) of patients had a Grade 3 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE). No Grade 4 or higher TRAEs were observed.

A main driver of the stock market enthusiasm can be found in the safety and efficacy results in the interim data. “This data showed an estimated 12-month survival rate of 87% and a progression-free survival of 10.4 months, which is very encouraging given the poor prognosis these patients face,” stated Lauren V. Wood, M.D., PDS Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer and a co-author of the study. “Furthermore, we remain encouraged by the safety profile of PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA®, with only 8% of patients experiencing a Grade 3 treatment-related adverse event without more serious Grade 4 or 5 events. We believe these data are encouraging for HNSCC patients and indicate that the addition of the HPV16-targeted immunotherapy PDS0101 to KEYTRUDA® should be further evaluated for its potential to enhance survival in HPV16-positive head and neck cancer patients.”

To understand the company PDS Biotechnology better, visit the research page on Channelchek, and also review this Channelchek video that shares key information about PDSB.

The Nature of Biotech Investing

Drug discovery and development is a long, uncertain path that often takes 10–15 years, with costs that could exceed $1–2 billion for any new drug ultimately approved for clinical use. Unlike unregulated products, it’s a significant achievement for a candidate to get as far as clinical trials. Attaining interim results showing high efficacy and tolerance is a very positive sign and one that will most often cause a large price jump. Negative results can have the opposite effect.

Events that cause small-cap biotech stocks to experience significant price jumps could include:

  • Positive clinical trial results: As with PDS Biotechnology, when a small-cap biotech company releases positive clinical trial results, it can generate significant investor interest and drive up the stock price.
  • FDA approvals: Taking is a step further, FDA approvals of drugs or medical devices can significantly boost a small-cap biotech company’s stock price, as it can open up a new revenue stream for the company.
  • Partnerships and collaborations: Partnerships and collaborations with larger companies can cause a small-cap biotech stock to rise as it indicates a level of validation for the company’s technology or products, and provide needed funding to bring research and development along the lengthy timeline.
  • Acquisition rumors or deals: When rumors or announcements of an acquisition by a larger company circulate, it can cause a small-cap biotech stock to rise as investors anticipate a potential buyout premium.
  • Analyst upgrades: If an influential analyst upgrades their rating on a small-cap biotech stock, it can increase investor interest and drive up the stock price.

Companies You May Want to Watch

There is data and information on well-over 200 small-cap biotech companies on Channelchek. Below is a select group that investors may want to follow. 

Cocrystal (COCP): Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses, hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses.

Axcella (AXLA): Axcella is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new approach to treat complex diseases using endogenous metabolic modulator compositions. The company’s product candidates are comprised of EMMs and derivatives that are engineered in distinct combinations and ratios to reset multiple biological pathways, improve cellular energetics, and restore homeostasis.

Tonix Pharmaceutical (TNXP): Tonix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, licensing, acquiring and developing therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix’s portfolio is composed of central nervous system, rare disease, immunology and infectious disease product candidates.

Onconova Therapeutics (ONTX):   Onconova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer. The Company has proprietary targeted anti-cancer agents designed to disrupt specific cellular pathways that are important for cancer cell proliferation.

MAIA Biotechnology (MAIA):   MAIA is a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action that are intended to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of cancer patients.

Ocugen (OCGN): Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies and vaccines that improve health and offer hope for patients across the globe. The company impacts patient’s lives through innovation that forge new scientific paths.

PDS Biotechnology (PDSB):  This was positive news for PDS Biotech, but there work isn’t finished and they have other immunotherapy products in their pipeline based on proprietary T cell-activating technology.

Take Away

As we approach the halfway point of 2023, biotech stocks that had traded sky-high during the pandemic era had been paid far less attention to since. But the tide appears to be turning as news such as that reported by PDSB, and partnerships and even acquisitions have been on the rise.

It’s an interesting sector that, for better or worse, is barely correlated with the rest of the stock market.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

Sources

PDS Biotechnology Press Release (May 25, 2023)

PDS Biotechnology Video

Release – PDS Biotech Completes Enrollment in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Naïve Arm of VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 Clinical Trial in Advanced HPV16 Positive Head and Neck Cancer

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

Company plans to initiate VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 clinical trial in late 2023

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted immunotherapies for cancer and infectious disease, today announced the completion of enrollment in the immune checkpoint inhibitor naïve group (ICI naïve) of its VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 trial for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV)16-positive head and neck cancer.

VERSATILE-002 (NCT04260126) is a Phase 2, open-label, multicenter trial of the efficacy and safety of PDS0101 administered in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), in adults with HPV16-positive, unresectable recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). VERSATILE-002 is investigating two patient populations with HPV16-positive head and neck cancer patients whose cancer has returned or spread. The first group has not been previously treated with an ICI, also known as the ICI naïve cohort, and is PD-L1 positive. The second group of patients has failed treatments, including ICI therapy (ICI refractory). In December 2022, PDS Biotech announced the completion of enrollment in the first stage of the ICI refractory group.

PDS Biotech recently announced that updated data from the ICI naïve group will be the subject of a poster presentation at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The abstract was also selected as one of the featured posters to be reviewed by an expert panel in the Head and Neck Cancer discussion session. The data will build upon previously announced preliminary efficacy data reported at ASCO 2022 from 17 ICI naïve VERSATILE-002 patients, which demonstrated an objective response rate of 41% (confirmed and unconfirmed responses), clinical benefit rate of 77%, and an overall survival rate of 87% at nine months.

“Completing enrollment in the ICI naïve arm is an important milestone in the VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 trial and the ongoing development of PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA® as a potential treatment for recurrent and/or metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer,” said Dr. Lauren V. Wood, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. “HPV-driven HNSCC is a growing problem, and there is a large unmet medical need to develop an HPV-targeted immunotherapy. Preliminary data reported at ASCO 2022 and highlighted at our October 2022 Head and Neck Cancer KOL Roundtable suggest that PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA® may lead to improved outcomes in ICI naïve, recurrent or metastatic HNSCC patients. We now look forward to reporting updated data from the VERSATILE-002 trial at ASCO 2023 as the next step towards a planned global confirmatory randomized, controlled trial investigating the combination of PDS0101 and KEYTRUDA® in this same patient population.”

90% of HPV-associated head and neck cancers in the U.S. are reported to be caused by HPV16, as reported in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (J Clin Med 2018 Sep;7(9):241). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to the combination of PDS0101 and KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of HPV16-positive HNSCC.

About PDS0101 

PDS0101, PDS Biotech’s lead candidate, is a novel investigational human papillomavirus (HPV)-targeted immunotherapy that stimulates a potent targeted T cell attack against HPV-positive cancers. PDS0101 is given by subcutaneous injection alone or in combination with other immunotherapies and cancer treatments. In a Phase 1 study of PDS0101 in monotherapy, the treatment demonstrated the ability to generate multifunctional HPV16-targeted CD8 and CD4 T cells with minimal toxicity. Interim data suggests PDS0101 generates clinically effective immune responses, and the combination of PDS0101 with other treatments can demonstrate significant disease control by reducing or shrinking tumors, delaying disease progression and/or prolonging survival. The combination of PDS0101 with other treatments does not appear to compound the toxicity of other agents.

About VERSATILE-002 

VERSATILE-002 is a single-arm Phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of PDS0101, an HPV16-targeted investigational T cell-activating immunotherapy that leverages PDS Biotech’s proprietary Versamune® technology, in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab). The combination is being evaluated in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-naïve and ICI-refractory patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and was granted Fast Track designation by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2022.

Preliminary efficacy and safety data were presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting for ICI naïve patients (PR link). Preliminary data from the first 19 patients demonstrated that 77% of the patients with available imaging (17 of 19) had either disease stabilization or tumor shrinkage. Additionally, the overall survival rate of these patients at 9 months was 87%.

About PDS Biotechnology 

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies based on our proprietary Versamune®, Versamune® plus PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms and PDS0301 tumor targeting immunocytokine. We believe our targeted immunotherapies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy approaches through the activation of the right type, quantity and potency of T cells. To date, our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has demonstrated the ability to reduce and shrink tumors and stabilize disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and will be advancing into a Phase 3 clinical trial in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer in 2023. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also demonstrated the potential to induce not only robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, but also powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses in pre-clinical studies to date. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech. 

Forward Looking Statements 

This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune™ based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Versamune® is a registered trademark and Infectimune™ is a trademark of PDS Biotechnology.

KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA.

Investor Contacts: 
Deanne Randolph 
PDS Biotech 
Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613 
Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com 

Rich Cockrell 
CG Capital 
Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838 
Email: pdsb@cg.capital

Media Contacts: 
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Dave Schemelia 
Phone: +1 (609) 468-9325 
dschemelia@tiberend.com

Bill Borden 
Phone: +1 (732) 910-1620 
bborden@tiberend.com