Independent Data Monitoring Committee Recommends Continuation of ADAPT Phase 3 Clinical Trial of AGS-003 for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Following Second Planned Interim Analysis

On December 10, 2015 Argos Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:ARGS) ("Argos"), an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of fully individualized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on the Arcelis technology platform, reported its independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) has recommended the continuation of the company’s pivotal phase 3 ADAPT clinical trial of AGS-003 for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) based on results of the committee’s second planned interim data analysis (Press release, Argos Therapeutics, DEC 10, 2015, View Source [SID:1234508520]).

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"The ADAPT phase 3 trial to evaluate AGS-003 in front line mRCC, the largest global trial ever performed in newly diagnosed, unfavorable risk mRCC patients, continues to progress nicely," said Dr. Figlin, the Steven Spielberg Family chair in hematology oncology, professor of medicine and biomedical sciences at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and the principal investigator for the ADAPT trial. "We anticipate that we are approaching the mid-point for the expected number of events and look forward to the next interim review of the trial data in approximately six months."

AGS-003 is a fully individualized immunotherapy that captures mutated and variant antigens that are specific to each patient’s tumor and is designed to induce an immune response targeting that patient’s tumor antigens. In an open-label phase 2 study, treatment with AGS-003 plus sunitinib yielded a median overall survival of more than 30 months in newly diagnosed, unfavorable (intermediate and poor) risk mRCC patients. The randomized phase 3 ADAPT trial evaluating AGS-003 plus standard targeted therapy enrolled a total of 462 mRCC patients and has a primary endpoint of overall survival. AGS-003 is Argos’ most advanced Arcelis-based product candidate.

"We are excited by the IDMC’s recommendation to continue with the trial," said Jeffrey D. Abbey, president and chief executive officer of Argos. "This is an important step for the ADAPT trial and for the clinical development of AGS-003."

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Argos executive management will host a conference call with Dr. Figlin beginning at 5:00pm EST on Thursday, December 10, 2015 to discuss the IDMC recommendation to continue the trial, and to answer questions.

To participate by telephone, please dial (855) 433-0930 (Domestic) or (484) 756-4271 (International). The conference ID number is 4042406. A live and archived audio webcast can be accessed through the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.argostherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will remain available on the Company’s website for 12 months following the call.

About the Arcelis Technology Platform

Arcelis is a fully individualized immunotherapy technology that captures mutated and variant antigens that are specific to each patient’s disease. It is designed to overcome immunosuppression by producing a durable memory T-cell response without adjuvants that may be associated with toxicity. The technology is potentially applicable to a wide range of different cancers, and is designed to overcome many of the manufacturing and commercialization challenges that have impeded other personalized cancer immunotherapies. The Arcelis process uses only a small tumor or blood sample and the patient’s own dendritic cells, which are optimized from cells collected by a single leukapheresis procedure. The proprietary process uses RNA isolated from the patient’s disease sample to program dendritic cells to target disease specific antigens. The activated, antigen-loaded dendritic cells are then formulated into the patient’s plasma and administered via intradermal injection.