PDS Biotechnology Corporation announced that an abstract detailing immune response data from the VERSATILE-002 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 has been accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2023 (ESMO Congress 2023). ESMO Congress 2023 is being held October 20-24, 2023 in Madrid. The abstract, titled, Polyfunctional HPV16-Specific T cell responses in subjects receiving PDS0101 and pembrolizumab combination treatment for recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)," reports on the ability of PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA to induce the right type of HPV16-specific multifunctional T cell responses in the treatment of advanced HPV16-positive head and neck cancer.

PDS0101 is designed to stimulate a potent targeted T cell attack against HPV16-positive cancers. The immunological clinical data demonstrates the immunotherapy's potential to generate clinically-relevant multifunctional HPV16-targeted CD8 and CD4 T cells with minimal toxicity in advanced head and neck cancer patients. 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 PDS0101with 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. 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)-na ve 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-na ve 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.