ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vaccinex, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of targeted biotherapeutics to treat serious diseases and conditions with unmet medical needs, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders, today announced it presented both a poster and a podium session regarding its anti-semaphorin 4D (anti-SEMA4D) monoclonal antibody (MAb) technology, which serves as the basis of its investigational drug pepinemab (VX15/2503).  The data were presented at the International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference.  The conference is co-sponsored by the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT), the European Academy of Tumor Immunology (EATI), and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

The data outlined results from several preclinical studies of the anti-SEMA4D MAb as both a single agent and in combination with various immunotherapy agents.  The data demonstrated the blockade of semaphorin 4D allowed dendritic and cytotoxic T cells to migrate into the tumor, while reversing myeloid-derived immunosuppression.  Further, the anti-SEMA4D MAb enhanced the activity of co-administered immunotherapy in mouse melanoma, head and neck, and colon carcinoma models.  Specifically, the company’s MAb plus anti-CTLA-4 resulted in 100 percent survival and 90 percent tumor rejection (p<0.0001) in head and neck cancer models.  In addition, anti-SEMA4D combined with HDAC inhibitor entinostat resulted in maximal tumor growth delay and 90 percent complete response in Colon26 tumor models.  The design of ongoing pepinemab combination immunotherapy clinical trials was also presented.

“We are gratified that the conference organizers felt our data compelling enough to grant both a poster and proffered podium presentation on these preclinical data and clinical programs,” commented Maurice Zauderer, CEO of Vaccinex, Inc.  “The data presented at the conference demonstrate the potential of our anti-SEMA4D technology on multiple tumor types, which may result in significant advance as we develop our lead compound, pepinemab (VX15/2503) for combination therapy.  The company has several clinical trials already in progress to evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy and biological endpoints, including immunophenotyping tumors and blood of patients treated with pepinemab in combination with immune checkpoint antibodies.”

Beginning October 4^th, the poster and slides presented at the conference can be accessed via the company’s website at www.vaccinex.com in the Events & Presentations section.
 
About Vaccinex, Inc. 

Vaccinex, Inc. is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company engaged in the discovery and development of targeted biotherapeutics to treat serious diseases and conditions with unmet medical needs, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders, with currently active clinical trials in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Huntington’s disease. Vaccinex is based in Rochester, New York. 

About the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival
The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT), the European Academy of Tumor Immunology (EATI), and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) are proud to once again join forces to present the International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference. The program will focus on “Translating Science into Survival” and feature talks from more than 60 leaders in the field covering all areas of inquiry in cancer immunology and immunotherapy. This meeting will provide an unparalleled opportunity for teaching, learning, and networking among all stakeholders in the field: scientists, clinicians, regulators, drug developers, and patient advocates. 

Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Vaccinex, Inc. (“Vaccinex,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), they are forward-looking statements reflecting management’s current beliefs and expectations. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “potential,” “advance,” and similar expressions or their negatives (as well as other words and expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our research and pre-clinical development programs, clinical development programs, future results, performance, or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, uncertainties inherent in the execution, cost and completion of preclinical and clinical trials, uncertainties related to regulatory approval, risks related to our dependence on our lead product candidate pepinemab (VX15), and other matters that could affect our development plans or the commercial potential of our product candidates. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, see the section titled “Risk Factors” in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the other risks and uncertainties described in our prospectus for our initial public offering dated August 9, 2018, filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Investor Contact

Michael Rice
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Phone: (646) 597-6979
E-mail: mrice@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact

Jules Abraham
JQA Partners, Inc.
Phone: (917) 885-7378
E-mail: jabraham@jqapartners.com