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(Alliance News) - NetScientific PLC on Monday said its investee PDS Biotechnology Corp was "encouraged" by study data for its PDS0101 combined with Merck & Co Inc's drug Keytruda.
PDS Biotech is developing targeted cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on its T cell activating platforms.
The London-based deep tech and life sciences-focused venture capital investor said PDS Biotech announced immune response data from a preliminary analysis of some patients in the Versatile-002 phase two clinical trial.
NetScientific said the trial was evaluating the safety and efficacy of PDS Biotech's PSD0101 in combination with Keytruda, Merck's anti-PD-1 therapeutic, in patients with advanced human papillomavirus- or HPV-positive head and neck cancer.
According to Princeton, New Jersey-based PDS, the combination of PDS0101 and Keytruda appeared to lead to changes towards a profile reportedly associated with improved killer T cell activity. It also caused increased polyfunctionality in T cells, which "is typically associated with enhanced killing function and anti-tumour activity".
"This analysis provides preliminary insights into how PDS0101 in combination with Keytruda may be impacting specific cytokines and chemokines in CD8 and CD4 T cell populations," explained PDS Chief Medical Officer Lauren Wood. "The investigational combination appears to be promoting a predominant TH1 immunologic profile that is associated with decreases in CD8 T cells in peripheral blood.
"We are encouraged that these observations align with other phase two studies...and we look forward to continued investigation in our Versatile-003 phase three study."
NetScientific shares closed up 1.0% at 58.60 pence in London on Monday.
By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter
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