HOOKIPA Pharma Doses First Patients with Eseba-vec as Adjuvant Therapy in Phase 2 Investigator Lead Trial for Head & Neck Cancer
Study done in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering and led by Dr. Winston Wong, Head and Neck Oncologist and Dr. Alan Ho, Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service
IIT will evaluate eseba-vec in patients who are HPV16+ after treatment for curative intent
Potential to expand the eseba-vec HNSCC opportunity into adjuvant care
Initial safety and efficacy data from IIT expected in 2026
NEW YORK and VIENNA, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK) (”HOOKIPA” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next generation immunotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer and serious infectious diseases, today announced that researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have dosed the first patients in an investigator initiated trial (IIT) of eseba-vec, HOOKIPA’s human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16+)-targeted investigational immunotherapeutic agent, in patients with minimal residual disease positive (MRD+) HPV-driven head and neck cancer.
“Based on the positive Phase 2 data generated to date in recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HNSCC, we believe eseba-vec has broad potential across HPV16+ cancers. We are enthusiastic to explore the potential of eseba-vec as an adjuvant treatment for patients with locally advanced HNSCC and continue our collaboration with Drs. Wong and Ho and the team at MSKCC,” said Mark Winderlich, PhD, Chief Research and Development Officer at HOOKIPA. “We believe eseba-vec can help address unmet needs within the adjuvant setting and pave the way for us to help more patients with HNSCC.”
Malte Peters, Chief Executive Officer of HOOKIPA added, “Eseba-vec was well tolerated and has demonstrated compelling efficacy in combination with pembrolizumab in HPV+ (R/M) HNSCC. We look forward to building on these promising findings with the expansion into adjuvant care. Our eseba-vec clinical development program in HNSCC continues to advance and we are on track to initiate our pivotal AVALON-1 Phase 2/3 study in the front-line setting for patients with HPV16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in the fourth quarter of 2024. We expect initial safety and efficacy data from the IIT in 2026.”
Winston Wong, MD, commented, “Targeted immunotherapeutic agents can play an important role in the care of patients with HPV16+ HSNCC. I am encouraged by the potential for eseba-vec in this setting based on promising Phase 2 combination data with pembrolizumab in the first line setting presented at this year’s American Society for Clinical Oncology annual meeting showing rapid and durable activation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and promising clinical response rates, especially in the CPS 20 or higher subgroup. Patients who are HPV16+ after receiving standard of care treatment for curative intent may also benefit from an immunotherapy treatment and we are currently testing whether eseba-vec may be a new, effective adjuvant treatment option.”
The Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (NCT06373380) will evaluate the use of eseba-vec in patients with minimal residual disease positive (MRD+) HPV-driven head and neck cancer. The primary endpoint of the study is disease-free survival. Secondary endpoints include an assessment of safety and tolerability. The study is expected to enroll approximately 50 patients.
About eseba-vec
Eseba-vec (also known as HB-200) is an investigational immunotherapeutic agent being evaluated for HPV16 positive cancers. The first indication for eseba-vec is for the potential treatment of patients with HPV16+ recurrent/metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (R/M OPSCC) with a PDL1 CPS of 20 or higher, in combination with pembrolizumab, in the first line (1L) setting. Eseba-vec has received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of 1L HPV16+ OPSCC. Eseba-vec was developed using HOOKIPA’s proprietary arenavirus platform.
About HOOKIPA
HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next generation immunotherapeutics based on its proprietary arenavirus platform. The company’s product candidates are designed to induce specific, robust and durable CD8+ T cells and antibodies to eliminate cancers and serious infectious diseases. HOOKIPA’s pipeline includes biological therapies for oncology, targeting human papillomavirus type 16-positive (HPV16+) cancers, KRAS mutated cancers, and other targets. In addition, HOOKIPA has partnered with Gilead to develop therapies that are intended to provide functional cures for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Find out more about HOOKIPA online at www.hookipapharma.com.
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