On March 9, 2022 Vaccinex, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a differentiated approach to treating cancer and neurodegenerative disease through the inhibition of SEMA4D, reported that it has been selected for poster presentation related to the phase 1b segment of its KEYNOTE-B84 study of pepinemab in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer during the upcoming 2022 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Meetings (2022 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)), taking place from April 8th to April 13th in New Orleans via in person and virtual attendance (Press release, Vaccinex, MAR 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234609761]).

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Details are shown below:
Abstract title: Phase 1/2 study of pepinemab, an inhibitor of semaphorin 4D, in combination with pembrolizumab as first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (KEYNOTE B84)
Presenter: Terrence Fisher, PhD, VP Clinical Science
Abstract: CT111
Session: Phase II Clinical Trials 1
Date and Time: Monday Apr 11, 2022 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, CST
Venue: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

Vaccinex has global commercial and development rights to pepinemab, and is sponsor of the KEYNOTE-B84 study which is being performed in collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck and Co, Inc. Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Additional information about the study is available at: clinicaltrials.gov link.

KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

About Pepinemab
Pepinemab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that inhibits SEMA4D, which regulates tumor immunity. Preclinical and clinical data show that pepinemab promotes infiltration/activation of dendritic cells/ CD8+ T-cells and reverses immunosuppression within the tumor.

Results of a Phase 1b/2 study to evaluate the combination of pepinemab with checkpoint inhibitor, BAVENCIO, avelumab (Merck KGaA) were presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2020 and were highlighted in the July 2021 publication of Clinical Cancer Research. Vaccinex reported that results of the Phase 1b/2 CLASSICAL-Lung trial showed a 25-33% Overall Response Rate (ORR) for patients with difficult to treat PD-L1 low/negative tumors treated with combination therapy and highlighted reason to anticipate a potentially greater response in cancer indications with higher levels of myeloid suppressor cells including R/M HNSCC. The study report also indicated that pepinemab did not increase immune-related toxicities of BAVENCIO but increased penetration of cytotoxic T cells. The publication is available electronically at: Clinical Cancer Research.