OncoQuest Announces Enrollment of First Patient in Phase 1/2 Clinical Study Using Combination of Oregovomab with Checkpoint Inhibitor Nivolumab in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

EDMONTON, May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - OncoQuest Inc. ("OncoQuest"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of immunotherapeutic products for the treatment of cancer, today announced the enrollment of the first patient in a Phase 1/2 clinical study to evaluate the use of oregovomab in combination with Nivolumab, an anti-PD1 human monoclonal antibody which works as a checkpoint inhibitor in ovarian cancer patients in the recurrent setting.  This clinical trial is being conducted at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore ("NCCS"), with Dr. Tira Tan as Principal Investigator, Adjunct Associate Professor John Chia from Oncocare Cancer Centre as the Study Chair, and Dr. Jack Chan as the co-chair.

"We are extremely excited about launching this study," noted Dr. John Chia. "Ovarian cancer is a lethal disease, and this trial may offer new hope for our patients. Early clinical data suggests that oregovomab may improve the immune system's processing of cancer antigens, and enhance the immune ability to recognize these cancer targets. We believe that the combination of oregovomab and Nivolumab, which amplifies such immune activity, will have a synergistic effect to elicit a higher quality tumor immune response, and hence improve control of the cancer." This will be the first clinical trial testing the combination of oregovomab with a checkpoint inhibitor as potential treatment of ovarian cancer in the recurrent setting.

"We continue to explore the potential of oregovomab in various stages of the progression of ovarian cancer," said Dr. Madiyalakan, CEO of OncoQuest. In frontline ovarian cancer, OncoQuest has recently announced positive interim results from its randomized controlled multi-center Phase 2 clinical trial with oregovomab as an indirect immunizer, in scheduled combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel. "In the recurrent setting, we are exploring the use of oregovomab with immune adjuvants in two clinical trials. The trial NCCS is conducting is in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor. We are also in the process of initiating a trial in U.S. in combination with a TLR3 agonist, Hiltonol®," continued Dr. Madiyalakan.

About Oregovomab
Oregovomab is OncoQuest's high affinity monoclonal antibody (Mab B43.13) that is designed to bind to the tumor associated antigen CA125 (also designated MUC16) and initiate a cascade of immune responses against this glycoprotein.  CA125 is expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer on the tumor surface but it is also shed into the circulation. OncoQuest believes that carboplatin paclitaxel based chemotherapy used in front line treatment in precisely scheduled combination with oregovomab can improve outcomes relative to chemotherapy alone and is currently exploring the role of select immune adjuvants and checkpoint inhibition to assess oregovomab's application in advanced disease settings. The Company plans to initiate Phase 3 development of this product in an optimal combination with commercial grade antibody product when the current combinatorial Phase 2 program is completed.    

About OncoQuest
OncoQuest is a subsidiary of Quest PharmaTech Inc. (TSXV-QPT) ("Quest"), and is a privately held, Canadian-based pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of immunotherapies for cancer. OncoQuest's technology platform includes a panel of tumor antigen specific monoclonal immunoglobulins including CA125, MUC1, PSA and Her2/neu; and the application of combinatorial immunotherapy to enhance tumor specific immunity and clinical outcome. OncoQuest's lead product is oregovomab for the treatment of ovarian cancer that is currently undergoing multiple Phase 2 clinical trials. OncoQuest's MUC1 program has already undergone a Phase 1 clinical trial in breast cancer patients, and its development is being led by OncoVent Co. Ltd., OncoQuest's joint venture partner that has licensed the rights of the immunotherapy technologies in the territory of Greater China. OncoQuest's next-generation products are based on immunoglobulin E licensed from UCLA, Stanford University and Advanced Immune Therapeutics, Inc. These antigen-specific monoclonal IgE antibodies are currently in preclinical development.  

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements.  In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions.  These statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and include statements regarding the trial offering new hope for patients, early clinical data suggesting that oregovomab may improve the immune system's processing of cancer antigens, and enhance the immune ability to recognize these cancer targets, the belief that the combination of  oregovomab and Nivolumab will have a synergistic effect to elicit a higher quality tumor response and hence improve control of the cancer, the continued exploration of the potential of oregovomab in various stages of the progression of ovarian cancer, the belief that that carboplatin paclitaxel based chemotherapy used in front line treatment in precisely scheduled combination with oregovomab can improve outcomes relative to chemotherapy alone and the planned initiation of Phase 3 development of this product in an optimal combination with commercial grade antibody product when the current combinatorial Phase 2 program is completed. These statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements, including the ability of  OncoQuest's product candidates to demonstrate safety and efficacy, as well as results that are consistent with prior results, the ability to enroll patients and complete the clinical trials on time and achieve desired results and benefits, the company's ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to the company's  ability to promote or commercialize its product candidates for specific indications, acceptance of its product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of products, the company's ability to maintain its license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of its patent estate, its ability to establish and maintain collaborations, its ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund its research and development activities, and its ability to retain its key scientists or management personnel.  The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release based on new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Quest PharmaTech Inc.