OncoSec Medical Inc. (OTCQB: ONCS),
a company developing its ImmunoPulse DNA-based intratumoral cancer
immunotherapy, has appointed Dr. Holbrook Kohrt, M.D., Ph.D., to the
company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Kohrt joins a growing panel of
distinguished experts and renowned thought leaders, and will contribute
his considerable expertise to the company as it works to advance an
expanding immuno-oncology pipeline.
Holbrook E. Kohrt, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at Stanford
Cancer Institute, and currently investigates novel therapeutic
strategies to enhance anti-tumor immunity. Dr. Kohrt attended Stanford
University Medical School as the Baxter Foundation Scholar, Howard
Hughes Scholar, and American Society of Hematology Research Fellow.
During this time he developed, validated, and nationally implemented a
nomogram for risk prediction in early stage breast cancer.
Dr. Kohrt trained in Internal Medicine at Stanford University through
the Clinical Investigator Pathway and completed fellowship in Hematology
and Oncology at Stanford with a research focus on preclinical models of
novel immunomodulatory antibodies. He received his Ph.D. in clinical
trial design and tumor immunology from Stanford. Most notably, Dr. Kohrt
along with Dr. Ron Levy at Stanford have been the academic leaders in
the advancement of intratumoral immuno-oncology therapies. Recently,
they conducted a Phase I/II clinical trial using CG-enriched
oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG), a ligand for the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)
in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As well, they have demonstrated that
intratumoral administration of the checkpoint inhibitor, anti-CTLA-4
antibody, is a safe and effective route of therapy in mice,
demonstrating both local and systemic responses.
“We are extremely excited to have Dr. Kohrt join our scientific advisory
board”, said Punit Dhillon, President and CEO. “Holbrook’s background
and experience will be invaluable as we not only move our ImmunoPulse
program forward into later stage clinical development, but he and the
rest of the SAB, will also be integral in keeping our intratumoral
immunotherapy platform at the cutting edge of scientific advances.”
Dr. Kohrt said, “OncoSec’s DNA-based intratumoral immunotherapy
technology has the potential to address an important unmet medical need
in cancer immunotherapy. I am pleased to help guide OncoSec’s scientific
team as it continues to target difficult diseases and advance new
intratumoral therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer.”
About OncoSec Medical Inc.
OncoSec Medical Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing its
ImmunoPulse immunotherapy to treat solid tumors. OncoSec Medical's core
technology leverages a proprietary electroporation platform to
enhance the local delivery and uptake of DNA IL-12 and other DNA-based
immune-modulating agents. Clinical studies of ImmunoPulse have
demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and preliminary evidence of
anti-tumor activity in the treatment of various skin cancers, as well as
the potential to initiate a systemic immune response without the
systemic toxicities associated with other treatments. OncoSec's clinical
programs currently include three Phase 2 trials targeting metastatic
melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, conducted
in collaboration with several prominent academic medical centers. As the
company continues to evaluate ImmunoPulse in these indications, it is
also investigating additional indications and combination therapeutic
approaches. For more information, please visit www.oncosec.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Any statements in this release that are not historical facts may be
considered such “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements
are based on management’s current preliminary expectations and are
subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause our results to
differ materially and adversely from the statements contained herein.
Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ from those predicted include our ability to raise
additional funding, our ability to acquire, develop or commercialize new
products, uncertainties inherent in pre-clinical studies and clinical
trials, unexpected new data, safety and technical issues, competition,
and market conditions. These and additional risks and uncertainties are
more fully described in OncoSec Medical’s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are
made. OncoSec Medical disclaims any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or
circumstances after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence
of unanticipated events.
Copyright Business Wire 2014