On December 12, 2018 OncoSec Medical Incorporated (OncoSec) (NASDAQ:ONCS), a company developing novel cancer immunotherapies, reported an update regarding tumor responses in its KEYNOTE-695 global, multicenter Phase 2b, open-label trial of intratumoral delivery of TAVO (tavokinogene telseplasmid / IL-12) with intravenous KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with unresectable, advanced melanoma (Press release, OncoSec Medical, DEC 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234532030]). The Company previously reported at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper)’s 33rd Annual Meeting (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) that, of the first nine patients to complete 12 weeks of treatment and reach initial tumor evaluation (by RECIST v1.1), two patients had a partial response. The Company now reports that both responses have been confirmed by blinded independent review at the first assessment timepoint. Further, in both cases, response duration has now reached six months. Importantly, one of these previously assessed partial responses has now become a complete response per investigator assessment at the six-month tumor evaluation timepoint. Enrollment is ongoing and the Company expects to complete the study next year.

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"Complete responses in this patient population are rare. One of the first partial responses to be observed in this study now being assessed by the investigator at six months as a complete response is exciting. Durable responses reaching the six-month mark demonstrate that the benefits of TAVO are clinically meaningful," said Daniel J. O’Connor, President and CEO of OncoSec. "The evidence of the potential of TAVO in conjunction with PD-1 inhibition to improve outcomes in this patient population is mounting and we look forward to providing updates as necessary regarding the progress of this trial."

KEYNOTE-695 enrollment criteria with respect to anti-PD-1 checkpoint failure is highly restrictive. In order to be considered an anti-PD-1 checkpoint failure, all patients must have Stage III/IV metastatic melanoma progressive disease after at least four prior cycles of either KEYTRUDA or OPDIVO. Literature suggests that retreatment with a PD-1 therapy following failure of a PD-1 therapy offers approximately a 5% response rate1. Disease progression is determined according to RECIST v1.1, measured by radiologic assessment, with confirmation of progression by second assessment.

"It’s becoming clear that TAVO can reverse PD-1 resistance in refractory metastatic melanoma patients. This is important because the majority of melanoma patients do not respond to PD-1 treatment," said Adil Daud, MD, HS Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), UCSF; Director, Melanoma Clinical Research, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Lead Principle Investigator of KEYNOTE-695. "Patients in KEYNOTE-695 have unequivocally failed all approved anti-PD-1 therapies. The tumor responses seen in this trial, now independently verified by a blinded review at the first assessment, deepening and continuing for months, gives us confidence in the potential of this treatment combination for patients who are non-responsive to anti-PD-1 therapy."

Eligible patients in KEYNOTE-695 had refractory, locally advanced or metastatic disease defined as unresectable Stage III/IV metastatic melanoma that had definitively progressed on a full-course of anti-PD-1 treatment with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) or OPDIVO (nivolumab). As previously reported, TAVO was well-tolerated, with primarily Grade 1 adverse advents associated with injection site or procedural pain. One TAVO related Grade 3 SAE of cellulitis was reported and resolved. KEYNOTE-695 is expected to be completed in 2019. Based on the outcome of the study, the Company plans to file for accelerated approval by end of 2019 or early 2020.

TAVO has received both Orphan Drug and Fast-Track Designation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

1 Long GV, Weber JS, Larkin J et al. Nivolumab for patients with advanced melanoma treated beyond progression: analysis of 2 Phase 3 clinical trials. JAMA Oncol. 3(11), 1511–1519 (2017).