On March 23, 2017 ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. ("ImmunoCellular") (NYSE MKT: IMUC) and Memgen, LLC ("Memgen") reported the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to exclusively negotiate the terms to possibly establish an immuno-oncology strategic collaboration focused on conducting clinical trials combining the companies’ respective cancer immunotherapy product candidates (Press release, ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, MAR 23, 2017, View Source [SID1234518250]). The discussions pertain to ImmunoCellular’s dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy product candidates, ICT-107 and ICT-140, and Memgen’s ISF35, a viral cancer immunotherapy encoding an optimized version of CD40 ligand. Combining DC-based and viral oncology immunotherapeutic approaches could provide a novel way to stimulate CD40 to possibly induce a potent, specific and effective anti-tumor response. Insights from these combination trials, if successful, could also lead to later combination trials with other immune-oncology technologies, including checkpoint inhibitors.

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"We are excited about the potential to work with Memgen," said Anthony Gringeri, PhD, ImmunoCellular President and Chief Executive Officer. "Memgen’s viral cancer immunotherapy, ISF35, has the potential to enhance the activity of ImmunoCellular’s immuno-oncology product candidates, including ICT-107. The ability to stimulate CD40 with a viral vector could play an important role in increasing the efficacy of dendritic cell immunotherapies. We look forward to potentially testing these therapies in combination trials."

"We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to work with ImmunoCellular Therapeutics and its DC product candidates, including ICT-107 in glioblastoma," said Mark Cantwell, PhD, Memgen Chief Scientific Officer. "Preclinical research presented at the 2016 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting showed that ISF35 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors induces anti-tumor immune responses, expands tumor specific CD8 T cells, and has the potential to eradicate brain tumors. The combination of ISF35 and ICT-107 with checkpoint inhibitors may provide a multi-pronged antitumor immune response. This includes ISF35’s CD40-driven dendritic and T cell activation and expansion, ICT-107’s tumor-specific antigen presentation, and checkpoint inhibitor release of the PD-1 pathway-mediated inhibition of the antitumor immune response."

If the parties agree upon the terms of a strategic collaboration, including financials, development, supply and control, ImmunoCellular and Memgen plan to work together to determine the best clinical strategy to leverage the collaboration.

About ICT-107 and ICT-140

ICT-107 is a dendritic cell-based immunotherapy targeting six tumor-associated antigens on glioblastoma stem cells. ICT-107 is currently being tested in a phase 3 registration trial in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The ongoing phase 3 registrational trial of ICT-107 is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of HLA-A2+ subjects, which is being conducted at about 120 sites in the US, Canada and the EU, with plans to randomize 542 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The primary endpoint in the trial is overall survival. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival and safety, as well as overall survival in the two pre-specified MGMT subgroups.

For patients, families and physicians seeking additional information about the ICT-107 phase 3 trial, please consult www.clinicaltrials.gov.

ICT-140 is a dendritic cell-based immunotherapy targeting seven tumor-associated antigens expressed on ovarian cancer cells. ImmunoCellular plans to conduct a phase 2 clinical trial in patients with ovarian cancer, pending available resources.

About ISF35

ISF35 is a viral cancer immunotherapy encoding an optimized form of CD40 ligand. Direct intratumoral delivery of ISF35, a non-replicating adenovirus encoding CD40 ligand, activates tumor-specific T cells through immunostimulation of dendritic cells. ISF35 generates an effective anti-tumor immune response and complements checkpoint inhibitors, a class of immuno-oncology (IO) drugs that removes the brakes tumors attempt to use to stop a T cell anti-tumor immune response.

Preclinical studies have shown that ISF35 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors cures 40% of mice with an aggressive B16 melanoma tumor, and eradicates melanoma brain metastases. These data add to the extensive clinical experience of ISF35 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia where safety and activity have been demonstrated. Preclinical research evaluating ISF35 in combination with PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitors is guiding the clinical development of ISF35