Jun 09 2015 - 5:08 pm Viralytics to present bladder trial data as shares top 89c
Shares in Viralytics have climbed 18.7% to a new closing high of 89c as $VLA prepares to post results from its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of CAVATAK in bladder cancer.
Data from the CANON study will be presented at the 9th International Conference on Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics, to be held June 13-16 in Boston.
The preliminary results from the first there patients in the Phase 1/2 trial referred to as the CANON (CAVATAK in Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer) study, demonstrate that administration of CAVATAK via catheter directly into the bladder (intravesicular treatment) is well tolerated with widespread virus replication within the tumor and viral-induced cancer cell death.
Principal Investigator of the CANON study and Director of the Surrey Cancer Research Institute at University of Surrey, Prof Hardev Pandha: "These data from the initial patient cohort are very exciting in achieving proof of concept of intravesicular delivery of CAVATAK.
"We are seeing viral tumor targeting, virus replication, and evidence of tumor cell death, notably mediated from the administration of the lowest planned dose of CAVATAK.
"To date the treatment has been well tolerated with no significant toxicity.”
"We are proceeding with the study expecting increased levels of CAVATAK activity in these tumors, not only with higher levels of viral dosing but also when combined with mitomycin C.
"We are very optimistic that the observed tumor targeting and viral replication is likely to provide a strong signal in generating both a strong local and systemic anti-tumor immune response."
The Phase 1/2 CANON trial is a two-part, open-label, dose-escalation study expected to enrol 30 to 40 patients.
Viralytics CEO Dr Malcolm McColl: "There is a real need for new therapies for bladder cancer that will improve the durability of response and reduce toxicities compared to current treatments.
"These positive initial results from the CANON trial suggest that CAVATAK is an oncolytic virus highly suited for application in NMIBC."
VLA Price at posting:
89.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
