Celsion Corporation Announces Updated Overall Survival Results from Phase III HEAT Study of ThermoDox® in Primary Liver Cancer

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSN) today announced that the latest overall survival data from its post-hoc analysis of results from the Company's Phase III HEAT Study of ThermoDox®, Celsion's proprietary heat-activated liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin in combination with radio frequency ablation (RFA), supports the continued clinical development of ThermoDox® in a prospective pivotal Phase III Study, subject to regulatory review and agreement. This analysis followed the announcement on January 31, 2013, that the HEAT Study did not meet its primary endpoint, progression-free survival (PFS).  As provided for in the HEAT Study's Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Company continues to follow patients for overall survival, the secondary endpoint of the Study.  Data from four quarterly reviews of overall survival have been evaluated since the announcement of top line PFS data.

Data from the updated HEAT Study analysis suggests that ThermoDox® may significantly improve overall survival, compared to control, in patients whose lesions undergo RFA treatment for 45 minutes or more.  These findings apply to patients with single HCC lesions (64.4% of the HEAT Study population) from both size cohorts of the HEAT Study (3-5 cm and 5-7 cm) and represent a subgroup of 285 patients (41% of the patients in the HEAT Study).  Updated OS data from this subgroup of patients is summarized below:

• In the patient subgroup treated in the ThermoDox® arm, whose RFA procedure lasted longer than 45 minutes (285 patients or 63% of single lesion patients) clinical results indicate a 55% improvement in overall survival, a Hazard Ratio of 0.64 (95% CI 0.41 – 1.00) and a P-value = 0.0495. Median overall survival for this subgroup has not yet been reached.
• In contrast, the patient subgroup treated with ThermoDox® whose RFA procedure lasted less than 45 minutes in duration (167 patients or 37% of single lesion patients) indicated a Hazard Ratio of 1.12 (95% CI 0.68 – 1.86) and a P-value = 0.66.  Median overall survival for this subgroup has not yet been reached.
• The Hazard Ratios reported above warrants additional clinical development and should be viewed with caution since they are based on a retrospective analysis and the HEAT Study has not reached its median point for overall survival analysis.  Celsion will continue to follow patients in the HEAT Study to the secondary endpoint, overall survival, and will update the subgroup analysis based on RFA heating duration.

"The HEAT Study post-hoc data is compelling.  The combination of ThermoDox® and an optimized RFA treatment appears to have a significant improvement in overall survival in HCC patients," stated Dr. Nicholas Borys, Celsion's Chief Medical Officer.  "While this conclusion is reached based on a post-hoc evaluation, it is nonetheless supported by the consistency of the data seen over a one year follow-up period, and by what is now a statistically significant outcome for overall survival.  Our investigators are convinced that RFA can and should be optimized in future trials."

The HEAT Study and prior post-hoc analyses were presented at three medical conferences in 2013, including the World Conference on Interventional Oncology in May; the European Conference on Interventional Oncology in June and the International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference in September.  Presentations were made by some of the most highly recognized liver cancer researchers and key HEAT Study investigators.  Quarterly overall survival data analyses have been conducted with the full support of these researchers and clinical investigators.  

Additionally, Celsion has been consulting with its clinical advisors, regulatory and expert statistician consultants and the FDA regarding the study design and statistical plan for its proposed pivotal Phase III clinical trial.  The Company anticipates initiating a multicenter global trial in the first half of 2014.  

"These data continue to support our strong interest in ThermoDox® and its potential as a first line treatment for a significant percentage of the world's 750,000 newly diagnosed HCC patients," noted Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion's President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition to the FDA, the Company is pursuing regulatory approval of its new Phase III clinical trial in multiple countries, particularly those where HCC's prevalence represents an important health issue.  In parallel with this effort, we are recruiting key CRO partners to initiate the Study rapidly following regulatory agency agreement. With our strong financial resources and the support of the global HCC community, we are confident in our ability to conduct a timely and cash efficient pivotal program."     

About Celsion Corporation

Celsion is dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative cancer drugs, including tumor-targeting treatments using focused heat energy in combination with heat-activated liposomal drug technology.  Celsion has research, license or commercialization agreements with leading institutions, including the National Institutes of Health, Duke University Medical Center, University of Hong Kong, the University of Pisa, the UCLA Department of Medicine, the Kyungpook National University Hospital, the Beijing Cancer Hospital and the University of Oxford.  For more information on Celsion, visit our website: http://www.celsion.com.

Celsion wishes to inform readers that forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, unforeseen changes in the course of research and development activities and in clinical trials; the uncertainties of and difficulties in analyzing interim clinical data, particularly in small subgroups that are not statistically significant; FDA and regulatory uncertainties and risks; the significant expense, time, and risk of failure of conducting clinical trials; HEAT Study data is subject to further verification and review by the HEAT Study Data Management Committee; the need for Celsion to evaluate its future development plans; possible acquisitions or licenses of other technologies, assets or businesses or the possible failure to make such acquisitions or licenses; possible actions by customers, suppliers, competitors, regulatory authorities; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Celsion's periodic reports and prospectuses filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Celsion assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

Investor Contact
Jeffrey W. Church
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
609-482-2455
[email protected]

SOURCE Celsion Corporation