On April 28, 2022 Immunicom, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a breakthrough technology platform for immuno-oncology, reported that data from its ongoing clinical investigation, Protocol CP7-005 [NCT04004910], at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Conference in New Orleans (Press release, Immunicom, APR 28, 2022, View Source [SID1234613180]). The trial data, presented by Principal Investigator, Prof. Piotr Wysocki, detailed continued encouraging data for the Company’s LW-02 Cartridge Immunopheresis treatment used with chemotherapy.
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Expanding on Part A data where LW-02 Cartridge Immunopheresis was used as a monotherapy, results from Immunicom’s Part B & Extension—where Immunopheresis is combined with various chemotherapy regimens—continue to demonstrate effectiveness, safety, and tolerability. Median overall survival (OS) extended beyond six months in patients treated greater than four weeks. In addition, the incidence of brain metastases appears to be less than would otherwise be expected in this heavily pre-treated mTNBC population, and further analyses are underway to confirm this observation.
Immunicom’s Immunopheresis subtractive therapy selectively removes sTNF-Rs from plasma through therapeutic apheresis—a blood-filtering process like dialysis—using Immunicom’s unique LW-02 Cartridge (containing the Company’s proprietary, high-affinity, molecular ligand subtractive matrix). Removal of sTNF-R from plasma unleashes a patient’s natural TNF-α, an innate molecule in the body, to directly kill cancer tumor cells and upregulate the immune system to attack the tumor.
Commenting on the data, Dr. Wysocki stated, "We are seeing further confirmation that Immunopheresis is a potentially revolutionary treatment for cancer. In these difficult to treat late-stage cancer patients, the possibility of extending survival and preventing spread of the cancer to the brain, which is common in these patients, is especially promising and opens a new playing field in the battle against refractory cancers. Our longest surviving patient who had progressed three prior lines of treatment before being treated with Immunopheresis therapy had a robust response to treatment that lasted nine months. For this patient, disease progression occurred with reduced frequency of LW-02 Immunopheresis treatment, but a robust response was again observed on increasing the LW-02 treatment to three times per week, demonstrating the ability of LW-02 Immunopheresis therapy to produce a durable and sustained response now out to over 18 months."
Immunicom’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) presentation underscores the burgeoning prospects for the Company’s Immunopheresis technology platform on multiple fronts in the fight against cancer and other immunologic disorders. The LW-02 Cartridge has received FDA Device Breakthrough Designation for treatment of solid malignancies and a CE Mark in Europe for use in chemo-refractory mTNBC. Three ongoing clinical trials continue to assess LW-02 Cartridge Immunopheresis as a monotherapy, and/or in combination with chemo- or immunotherapy, with other trials planned to initiate later in 2022.
Prof. Wysocki’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) poster presentation is available on Immunicom’s website.
Subtractive Therapy – Immunopheresis and the LW-02 Cartridge
Immunicom employs a proprietary, high-affinity, molecular capture-ligand binding matrix within the LW-02 Cartridge to remove specific cytokine receptors, soluble TNF-Receptors 1 and 2 (sTNFR-1/2), which are shed by cancer cells into the extracellular tumor microenvironment. sTNF-Rs serve as decoys, binding tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) before it can bind to its membrane-embedded sTNF-Rs receptor to trigger several cell death pathways. The selective removal of decoy sTNF-Rs by the LW-02 Cartridge unleashes the patient’s immune system to identify and aggressively attack the cancer.
Immunopheresis, like dialysis, is a subtractive therapy that occurs outside the body, in contrast to conventional drug and biologics that are infused into the patient. Immunopheresis is thus much better tolerated than chemo- and immunotherapies, allowing for its use as an adjunct with these therapies, possibly in lower doses to reduce their toxicity.