Cancer Vaccine-Pembrolizumab Combination Study Updated

Norway-based Ultimovacs ASA announced today continuing positive topline results in its ongoing U.S.-based Phase I clinical trial evaluating the Company’s universal cancer vaccine, UV1, in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment in metastatic malignant melanoma.

The study had previously reached its primary endpoint of safety and tolerability and, at 24 months of follow-up, continues to demonstrate strong signs of clinical response.

In the Phase I trial, patients were initially treated for 14 weeks with UV1 in combination with pembrolizumab. At the cut-off date of October 12, 2021, every patient in the first cohort had been followed for at least 24-months from the start of their treatment.

After two years of follow-up, the overall survival rate was 80% in this first cohort of 20 patients.

As previously announced, the median progression-free survival for these patients was 18.9 months.

The 24-month follow-up data compares favorably with an earlier large-scale study of pembrolizumab alone, which showed an overall survival rate of 58% after 24 months and median progression-free survival of 5.5-11.6 months*.

“The combination of UV1 and pembrolizumab has a strong safety profile and provides a prolonged and effective clinical response in advanced melanoma,” commented Jens Bjørheim, Chief Medical Officer of Ultimovacs, in a press release.

“These two-year follow-up data suggest that the way in which UV1 mobilizes the immune system provides patients with lasting benefits.”

The 12-month follow-up data from Ultimovacs’ Phase I trial can be accessed here. For further information, please also see the Q2 2021 financial report.