Netscientific Regulatory News (NSCI)

NetScientific plc

("NetScientific" or the "Company" or the "Group")

NetScientific Portfolio Company PDS Biotechnology will embark on multiple Phase 2 studies following positive results following the completion of its Phase I study for PDS0101 Immunotherapy for HPV-Related Cancers

London, UK - 13/4/2016 - NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI), the transatlantic healthcare technology group, is pleased to announce that its therapeutics portfolio company, PDS Biotechnology, will today announce positive Phase I study results for its PDS0101 immunotherapy for HPV-Related Cancers. In addition, NetScientific intends to make a further investment of $500,000 into PDS Biotechnology. To date, NetScientific has invested £1.76m in PDS Biotechnology and has a shareholding of 14.85%.

The Phase 1 study was performed in cervical neoplasia subjects infected with high-risk cancer-causing strains of HPV. Key study goals included the evaluation of human safety and tolerability, and confirmation of the method of action employed by Versamune®, PDS's proprietary technology platform, by causing induction of high levels of active HPV-specific killer T-cells. The Phase 1 study demonstrated that PDS0101 successfully overcomes a key immunotherapy obstacle by efficiently accessing the immunological pathway known as MHC Class-I, necessary in humans to train and activate a population of T-cells known as 'killer' T-cells to target cancers containing specific "cancer proteins".

Commenting on the news, NetScientific's Chief Executive Officer, Francois R. Martelet said: "We are encouraged by these promising Phase I results, which provide validation of the Versamune® platform technology. As an early stage investor in PDS Biotechnology we look forward to continuing our support of the Company as it looks to further corroborate the potential of PDS0101 in upcoming phase 2 studies in pre-cancer, cervical and head and neck cancers."

The full text of the announcement from PDS Biotechnology can be found below.

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NetScientific is a transatlantic healthcare technology group with an investment strategy focused on sourcing, funding and commercialising technologies that significantly improve the health and well-being of people with chronic diseases. For more information, please visit the website at www.netscientific.net. 

PDS Biotechnology Reports Positive Phase 1 Study Results for PDS0101 Immunotherapy for HPV-Related Cancers

- Achieved substantial induction of killer T-cells capable of targeting HPV-positive tumors

- Well tolerated; no significant toxicities

- On track to initiate multiple Phase 2 studies in HPV-related cancers in next 12 months

North Brunswick, NJ: PDS Biotechnology has completed a successful Phase 1 clinical study of its lead cancer immunotherapy, PDS0101, focused on the treatment of HPV-induced cancers. These include head and neck, anal, and cervical cancer, as well as anal, vaginal, penile, vulvar and cervical pre-cancerous neoplasias. PDS0101 is based on the company's proprietary Versamune® platform, which is being applied to multiple immuno-oncology products.

The PDS0101 Phase 1 study was performed in cervical neoplasia subjects infected with high-risk cancer-causing strains of HPV. Key study goals included evaluation of human safety and tolerability, and confirmation of the Versamune® platform's mechanism of action that causes induction of high levels of active HPV-specific killer T-cells. The Phase 1 study demonstrated that PDS0101 successfully overcomes a key immunotherapy obstacle by efficiently accessing the immunological pathway known as MHC Class-I, necessary in humans to train and activate a population of T-cells known as killer T-cells to target cancers containing specific "cancer proteins."

Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, CEO said, "PDS regards these strong human immunological responses, paired with a superior safety profile, as extremely promising, especially given that T-cell induction was seen in all subjects."

In preclinical studies, PDS0101 demonstrated a unique ability to down-regulate key populations of immune-suppressive cells, leading to strong anti-tumor efficacy. Successful development of immunotherapies, especially of cancer vaccines, has historically been impeded by an inability to effectively activate tumor-specific killer T-cells and also overcome immune-suppression.

The ability of PDS0101 to conclusively demonstrate human efficacy by inducing high levels of tumor-specific killer T-cells, while simultaneously reducing immune-tolerance, will be further corroborated in upcoming phase 2 studies in pre-cancer, cervical and head and neck cancers.

About the Versamune® Platform: Versamune® is a synthetic nanotechnology that exploits the immune system's natural inclination to efficiently take up the nanoparticles upon subcutaneous injection. Versamune® then facilitates efficient presentation of cancer protein antigens to the killer T-cells, thus training the T-cells to recognize the cancer. It has also been proven to activate critical immunological signaling pathways that result in the production of immunological proteins known as cytokines and chemokines locally within the lymph nodes to recruit T-cells, and enhance T-cell proliferation as well as the killing activity of T-cells. Activation of these pathways may also be responsible for the technology's ability to overcome tumor immune suppression.

About PDS Biotechnology: PDS Biotech is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company committed to the development of simpler, safer and more effective immunotherapies. An example of the company's approach is the Versamune® platform, possibly the first immuno-oncology technology to successfully combine the three critical attributes of an effective immunotherapy in a simple nanoparticle, while also eliminating the potentially debilitating toxicities of some leading immunotherapy approaches. PDS Biotechnology's oncology pipeline includes products for prostate, ovarian, breast and colorectal cancers, in addition to its lead PDS0101 program for several HPV-related cancers.