NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 07, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED), a clinical-stage company developing novel anti-cancer stem cell and immuno-oncology therapeutics, presented new preclinical data for anti-DLL4 combined with anti-VEGF and anti-PD1 during the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Conference.
A series of preclinical experiments compared the impact of anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific and a triple blockade of DLL4-VEGF-PD1 on anti-tumor immune responses. The combination of anti-DLL4/VEGF and anti-PD1 was found to have more potent anti-tumor and enhanced immuno-oncology activity than either agent alone across a number of measures. The triple blockade of DLL4-VEGF-PD1 significantly inhibited tumor growth with more pronounced tumor regression. The addition of anti-DLL4/VEGF also improved anti-tumor activity of anti-PD1 alone in both PD1 responsive and non-responsive cancers in murine models.
“These data highlight the ability of the anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific to combine with anti-PD1 and to modulate anti-tumor immune responses,” said Austin Gurney, PhD, Senior Vice President of Molecular and Cellular Biology. “In addition to increased anti-tumor efficacy, we note enhanced generation of memory T cell responses and reduced tumor-associated macrophages. These results show that co-targeting of DLL4 and VEGF with PD1 might be an effective and durable anti-cancer therapy in part by promoting anti-tumor immune responses and inhibiting pro-tumor immune responses”
DLL4 is a ligand within the Notch pathway and plays important roles in regulating cancer stem cells, tumor angiogenesis and pro-tumor immune responses. OncoMed has two clinical agents targeting DLL4: demcizumab (anti-DLL4, OMP-21M18), currently in Phase 2 trials for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific, (OMP-305B83) currently in a Phase 1a trial in advanced solid tumors. The combination of anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific with anti-PD1 demonstrated a distinct mechanistic profile versus prior observations of the synergistic combination of anti-DLL4 and anti-PD1 presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 2015 Annual Meeting, suggesting potential for increased T-cell activation, maintenance and memory T-cell function.
Angie Park, Ph.D., Director of Immunotherapy and Stem Cell Biology of OncoMed presented these data in a poster titled “Co-Targeting of Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) with Programmed Death 1 (PD1) blockade inhibits tumor growth and facilitates anti-tumor immune responses.” during the Optimizing Combination Immunotherapy session.
About OncoMed Pharmaceuticals
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer stem cell and immuno-oncology therapeutics. OncoMed has seven anti-cancer product candidates in clinical development, including demcizumab (anti-DLL4, OMP-21M18), tarextumab (anti-Notch2/3, OMP-59R5), brontictuzumab (anti-Notch1, OMP-52M51), anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific antibody (OMP-305B83), vantictumab (anti-FZD7, OMP-18R5), ipafricept (FZD8-Fc, OMP-54F28), and anti-RSPO3 (OMP-131R10), which each target key cancer stem cell signaling pathways including Notch, Wnt and R-spondin-LGR. OncoMed has formed strategic alliances with Celgene Corporation, Bayer Pharma AG and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). A wholly owned immuno-oncology candidate, GITRL-Fc, and an undisclosed target that is part of OncoMed’s collaboration with Celgene are being advanced toward clinical trials in the 2016-2017 timeframe.
Please see the company's website at www.oncomed.com for additional information.
Patients interested in learning more about participating in one of OncoMed’s many clinical trials may learn more by calling 1-866-914-7347 or emailing oncomed@emergingmed.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including OncoMed’s expectations regarding the timing, progress and results of OncoMed’s preclinical studies, including the timing of the advancement of its immuno-oncology product candidates to clinical trials; the increased anti-tumor efficacy of co-targeting DLL4 and VEGF with anti-PD1; and the anti-tumor efficacy and mechanistic profile of OncoMed’s anti-DLL4/bispecific. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the preclinical and clinical development process; OncoMed’s dependence on its collaboration partners, including Celgene, GSK and Bayer, for the funding of its partnered programs; OncoMed’s ability to raise additional capital to support the development of its unpartnered programs; OncoMed’s reliance on third parties to conduct certain preclinical studies and all of its clinical trials; and OncoMed’s reliance on single source third-party contract manufacturing organizations to manufacture and supply its product candidates. OncoMed undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to OncoMed’s business in general, see OncoMed’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 12, 2015, OncoMed’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2015, OncoMed’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on November 5, 2015, and OncoMed’s other periodic reports filed with the SEC.
Contact:
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals
Michelle Corral
Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
michelle.corral@oncomed.com
(650) 995-8373
Investors
Shari Annes
Annes Associates
shari.annes@oncomed.com
(650) 888-0902