ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vaccinex, Inc., a privately-held clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and other targeted biological therapies for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader luncheon on the topic of Huntington’s Disease on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 in New York City.
The meeting will feature presentations by Ira Shoulson, MD, Georgetown University, and Karl Kieburtz, MD, MPH, University of Rochester. The discussion will include recent research and the current treatment landscape, as well as the unmet medical need for treating patients with Huntington's Disease (HD). Both KOLs will be available to answer questions at the conclusion of the event.
Vaccinex's management team will provide a clinical overview of VX15/2503 ("VX15"), an antibody to semaphorin 4D, a molecule that has been shown to regulate the activation and migration of inflammatory cells in the brain. VX15 is currently in a Phase 2 multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study (the “SIGNAL” trial) to assess its safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in 200 patients with early manifest and late prodromal (pre-manifest) HD.
Ira Shoulson, MD is Professor of Neurology, Pharmacology and Human Science and Director of the Program for Regulatory Science and Medicine (PRSM) at Georgetown University, Washington, DC. Dr. Shoulson founded the Parkinson Study Group in 1985 and the Huntington Study Group in 1994 -- international academic consortia devoted to research and development of treatments for Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and related neurodegenerative and neurogenetic disorders. He was a key investigator in the US-Venezuela Collaborative Huntington Disease Project, which identified the gene responsible for this fatal hereditary disorder. Dr. Shoulson has served as principal investigator of the National Institutes of Health-sponsored trials "Deprenyl and Tocopherol Antioxidative Therapy of Parkinsonism" (DATATOP), the “Prospective Huntington At Risk Observational Study” (PHAROS), and in the leadership of more than 35 other multi-center clinical research studies. He played an instrumental role in the development of 10 new drugs for neurological disorders, including seven for Parkinson disease (selegiline, lazabemide, pramipexole, entacapone, clozapine, rasagiline, rotigitine), two for Huntington disease (tetrabenazine, dutetetrabenazine) and one for attention deficit disorder (Concerta). He was formerly a health policy fellow in the US Senate, a member of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council, and president of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics (ASENT). He is currently principal investigator of the FDA-Georgetown University Collaborating Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI - FD004319), associate editor of JAMA Neurology and an active elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He has authored more than 310 scientific reports.
Karl Kieburtz MD MPH, is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester. He was the founding Director of the Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics, which conducts learning phase clinical trials in a wide spectrum of disorders. He was also the initial Robert J. Joynt Professor in Neurology, and served as the Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research and Director of the Clinical & Translational Science Institute, where he continues to have a senior advisory role. Dr. Kieburtz’s primary clinical and research interests are neurodegenerative diseases affecting the basal ganglia. He was the principal investigator (PI) for the NINDS sponsored trials of neuroprotective agents for PD (NET-PD), served as the Chair of the Parkinson Study Group, and directs the Clinical Core for the Fox Foundation sponsored Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative. He has served as the PI for many multicenter clinical trials in Huntington disease (HD), including the first NIH-funded multicenter trial in HD (CARE HD), and the initial dosage ranging trials of Pridopidine. He previously served on and chaired the FDA Advisory Committee on Peripheral and Central Nervous System Disorders. In 2009, he was one of the co-founders of Clintrex LLC, and continues to serve as President of the organization.
This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited. For those who are unable to attend in person, a live webcast and replay will be accessible here.
About Vaccinex, Inc.
Vaccinex, Inc. is a privately held clinical-stage immunotherapy company engaged in the discovery and development of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, with currently active clinical trials in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Huntington’s disease. Vaccinex utilizes its proprietary ActivMAb® Antibody Discovery Technology for rapid, mammalian cell-based antibody selection to build its antibody pipeline and in service to its biopharmaceutical partners. Recent advances have made this technology uniquely efficient for selection of antibodies against multi-pass membrane proteins, an important class of target molecules for pharmaceutical development. Vaccinex is based in Rochester, New York. For more information and to contact Vaccinex at info@vaccinex.com or visit www.vaccinex.com.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management. Words such as “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions, as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements about expectations related to a Phase 2 clinical trial for the Company’s lead monoclonal antibody, VX15/2503. Forward-looking statements in this press release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including as a result of the inherent challenges in clinical development. All forward-looking statements are based on Vaccinex’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release, and actual results may differ materially. Except as required by law, Vaccinex expressly disclaims any responsibility to update any forward-looking statement contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT:
Raymond E. Watkins
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Vaccinex, Inc.
rwatkins@vaccinex.com