P RESS RELEASE
Immunocore presents clinical data further characterizing the overall survival benefit of tebentafusp in metastatic uveal melanoma at the
2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
(OXFORDSHIRE, England & CONSHOHOCKEN, Penn. & ROCKVILLE, Md., US, 04 June 2021) Immunocore (Nasdaq: IMCR), a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of a novel class of T cell receptor (TCR) bispecific immunotherapies designed to treat a broad range of diseases, including cancer, infection and autoimmune disease, announces the presentation of a subset analysis from the Phase 3 study exploring the overall survival benefit from tebentafusp in patients with best RECIST* response of progressive disease at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting being held virtually from June 4-8, 2021.
“As a pioneer in the T cell receptor therapy class, we will continue to analyze the science and clinical data behind the survival benefit from tebentafusp which will also help advance the field of TCR bispecifics,” said David Berman, Head of Research and Development at Immunocore. “At ASCO this year, we presented further analysis of the Phase 3 tebentafusp trial including an overall survival benefit from tebentafusp in patients with best response of progressive disease.”
In patients with a best response of progressive disease (PD) in the phase 3 trial, the overall survival (OS) was superior for the tebentafusp arm versus the investigator’s choice arm with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.43 (95%CI 0.27-0.68). More than half of tebentafusp patients with best response PD were treated beyond initial progression and no new safety signals were observed. In addition, analysis from the phase 2 tebentafusp trial suggests that at least one-third of patients on tebentafusp with a best response of PD have a reduction in circulating tumor DNA and that this may be associated with longer OS.
Tebentafusp has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) designation under the UK Early Access to Medicines Scheme for metastatic uveal melanoma. Immunocore will be working with the FDA to complete submission of a BLA for tebentafusp in the third quarter of 2021.
_______________________________________
*Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors
CLINICAL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM
Title: Overall survival benefit from tebentafusp in patients with best response of progressive disease
Presenter: Anthony Joshua, MD
Date and Tim e: June 4, 2021; 9:00 a.m. EDT
Session: Management of Rare Melanoma Subtypes
Abstract ID: 9509
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Title: Co-primary endpoint of overall survival for tebentafusp (tebe)-induced rash in a Phase 3 randomized trial comparing tebe vs. investigator’s choice (IC) in first line metastatic uveal melanoma
Session: Melanoma/Skin Cancers
Abstract ID: 9527
Title: Overall survival in patients who received checkpoint inhibitors after completing tebentafusp in a phase 3 randomized trial of first line metastatic uveal melanoma
Session: Melanoma/Skin Cancers
Abstract ID: 9526
Title: Characterization of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) following treatment with tebentafusp in patients (pts) with previously treated (2L+) metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM).
Session: Melanoma/Skin Cancers
Abstract ID: 9531
Due to the virtual format, all oral, poster, and poster discussion sessions, as well as track-based Clinical Science Symposia, will be available on demand, beginning June 4, 2021 at 9 a.m. EDT, for registered attendees of the conference.
##
About Immunocore
Immunocore is a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of a novel class of TCR bispecific immunotherapies called ImmTAX – Immune mobilizing monoclonal TCRs Against X disease – designed to treat a broad range of diseases, including cancer, infectious and autoimmune. Leveraging its proprietary, flexible, off-the-shelf ImmTAX platform, Immunocore is developing a deep pipeline in multiple therapeutic areas, including five clinical stage programs in oncology and infectious disease, advanced pre-clinical programs in autoimmune disease and multiple earlier pre-clinical programs. Immunocore’s most advanced oncology therapeutic candidate, tebentafusp, has demonstrated an overall survival benefit in a randomized Phase 3 clinical trial in metastatic uveal melanoma, a cancer that has historically proven to be insensitive to other immunotherapies.
A bout ImmTAC ® Molecules
Immunocore’s proprietary T cell receptor (TCR) technology generates a novel class of bispecific biologics called ImmTAC (Immune mobilising monoclonal TCRs Against Cancer) molecules that are designed to redirect the immune system to recognise and kill cancerous cells. ImmTAC molecules are soluble TCRs engineered to recognise intracellular cancer antigens with ultra-high affinity and selectively kill these cancer cells via an anti-CD3 immune-activating effector function. Based on the demonstrated mechanism of T cell infiltration into human tumours, the ImmTAC mechanism of action holds the potential to treat hematologic and solid tumours, regardless of mutational burden or immune infiltration, including immune “cold” low mutation rate tumours.
About T ebentafusp
Tebentafusp is a novel bispecific protein comprised of a soluble T cell receptor fused to an anti-CD3 immune-effector function. Tebentafusp specifically targets gp100, a lineage antigen expressed in melanocytes and melanoma, and is the first molecule developed using Immunocore’s ImmTAC technology platform designed to redirect and activate T cells to recognise and kill tumour cells. Tebentafusp has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Fast Track designation and orphan drug designation by the FDA in the United States and Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) designation under the UK Early Access to Medicines Scheme for metastatic uveal melanoma. For more information about enrolling tebentafusp clinical trials for metastatic uveal melanoma, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03070392).
About Uveal Melanoma
Uveal melanoma is a rare and aggressive form of melanoma, which affects the eye. Metastatic uveal melanoma typically has a poor prognosis and has no currently accepted optimal management or treatment. Although it is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, the diagnosis is rare, with approximately 8,000 new patients diagnosed globally each year (1,600-2,000 cases per year in the United States). Up to 50% of people with uveal melanoma will eventually develop metastatic disease. When the cancer spreads beyond the eye, only approximately half of patients will survive for one year.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but are not limited to, statements regarding the efficacy, safety and therapeutic potential of tebentafusp, the design, progress, timing, scope and results of the Company’s clinical trials including IMCgp100-202, the anticipated timing of disclosure of results of clinical trials, plans for initiating future clinical trials and extension studies, the progress of the Company’s development programs including tebentafusp, the potential benefit of Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Orphan Drug Designation for tebentafusp, the timing of regulatory filings including estimates regarding the planned submission a BLA for tebentafusp, the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approval of any of the Company’s product candidates including tebentafusp, and the regulatory approval path for tebentafusp. Any forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, clinical trials and financial position; unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical studies or clinical trials; clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected; changes in expected or existing competition; changes in the regulatory environment; and the uncertainties and timing of the regulatory approval process. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2021, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update this information except as required by law.
CONTACT:
Immunocore
Debra Nielsen, Head of Communications
T: +1 (610) 368-8602
E: debra.nielsen@immunocore.com
Follow on Twitter: @Immunocore
Consilium Strategic Communications (corporate and financial)
Mary-Jane Elliott/ Chris Welsh/Jessica Hodgson
T: +44 (0)203 709 5700
E: Immunocore@consilium-comms.com
Investor Relations
Clayton Robertson, Head of Investor Relations
T: +1 215-384-4781
E: ir@immunocore.com
