Vancouver, BC, Canada, June 25th, 2024 – Defence Therapeutics Inc. (“Defence” or the “Company”), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company developing novel immune-oncology vaccines and drug delivery technologies, is pleased to announce that its second-generation ARM-X anti-cancer vaccine is therapeutically effective against pre-established ovarian cancer (ID8 model) when combined with the anti-PD-1 immune-checkpoint inhibitor.
Using Defence’s Accum® platform, the Company previously demonstrated that AccuTOX® treatment of MSCs results in the induction of antigen cross-presentation capacity (ARM-X cells), which can mount potent anti-tumoral responses in animal pre-clinical models. This was previously achieved using various cancer models including solid T-cell lymphoma, melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Defence just completed an additional study where animals with pre-established ovarian cancer responded to a combination therapy including ARM-X and anti-PD-1. The latter group prolonged animal survival beyond 80 days post-vaccination, and it led to a complete response in almost all treated animals as shown in Figure 1.
“This is the 4th cancer model that we efficiently targeted using our ARM-X antic-cancer vaccine. The purpose of testing our vaccine in various models is to highlight how ARM-X can be adapted to the needs of any patient, no matter the type of cancer, given that we have access to a tumor biopsy.” says Mr. Sebastien Plouffe, Chief Executive Officer of Defence Therapeutics.
One of the major advantages of Defence’s ARM-X vaccine is the need of lower antigen amounts to manufacture the vaccine. This is important as it avoids the need of a big tumor sample in the vaccine generation. Defence is currently testing its ARM-X vaccine on colon as an additional indication. These results will set the target indication for the Phase I-IIa trials, and it also shows how versatile and adaptable can the ARM-X anti-cancer vaccine be.
About Defence:
Defence Therapeutics is a publicly traded biotechnology company committed to making cancer treatment more effective and safer. Using its Accum® precision drug delivery platform, Defence is working to enhance the potency of ADCs and other complex biologics at lower doses, with the goal of reducing side effects and improving access to advanced therapies. By pursing cutting edge science, and collaborating with pharma and biotech partners, Defence strives to bring transformative therapies to patients who need them most. To learn more about Defence Therapeutics and explore partnering opportunities, please visit www.defencetherapeutics.com or contact info@defencetherapeutics.com.
For further information:
Amie Phinney
President and Chief Executive Officer
P: (604) 306-8027
aphinney@defencetherapeutics.com
www.defencetherapeutics.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
