Highlights

• Imugene has advanced its ongoing Phase 1 MAST study with the first patients receiving dosing in the intratumoral (IT) and intravenous (IV) cohorts of CF33-hNIS in combination with Pembrolizumab.
• The study is focused on measuring the safety profile of novel cancer-killing virus CF33-hNIS (VAXINIA).
• The multicentre study began in May 2022 and is likely to take approximately 24 months.
• Separately, the company has given CFO Mike Tonroe an additional role of IMU’s Company Secretary.

ASX-listed clinical-stage immunooncology company Imugene Limited (ASX:IMU) has dosed the first patients in the intratumoral (IT) and intravenous (IV) cohorts of CF33-hNIS in combination with Pembrolizumab. This development relates to the Phase 1 metastatic advanced solid tumours (MAST) study, which is being performed with the purpose of analysing the safety of VAXINIA, a cancer-killing virus CF33-hNIS.

Overview of multicenter Phase 1 MAST trial

Image source: Company website

The clinical trial is titled “A Phase I, Dose Escalation Safety and Tolerability Study of VAXINIA (CF33- hNIS), Administered Intratumorally or Intravenously as a Monotherapy or in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Adult Patients with Metastatic or Advanced Solid Tumours (MAST).”

Imugene had started the multicenter Phase 1 MAST trial in May 2022 by administrating a low dose of VAXINIA to patients having metastatic or advanced solid tumours with minimum two prior lines of standard of care treatment.

The company advanced to cohort 1 of the combination study and cohort 3 for both arms of the monotherapy dose escalation, after clearing cohort 2 of the monotherapy dose escalation.

It has been previously demonstrated that the City of Hope-developed oncolytic virus can reduce ovarian, colon, lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer tumours in preclinical laboratory and animal models.

In total, 100 patients will be recruited in the study across 10 trial sites in Australia and the United States. Most likely, the trial will take around two years for its completion.

Data & image source: Company website

CFO Mike Tonroe appointed as Company Secretary

Imugene has expanded Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mike Tonroe’s role to include that of Company Secretary of the company, with effect from 02 March 2023. 

Mr Tonroe had taken charge as Imugene’s CFO in September 2022. Previously, Mr Tonroe has served as the Company Secretary of Opthea Limited and Genetic Technologies Limited.  

IMU shares were spotted trading at AU$0.132 on 03 March 2023.