GeoVax Reveals Promising Results for Gedeptin® Cancer Therapy at AACR Annual Meeting

A recent clinical study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting has revealed encouraging results for Gedeptin®, a groundbreaking gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy targeting solid tumors. The research, conducted across multiple prestigious cancer research institutions, demonstrates potential advances in treating advanced head and neck cancers that have proven resistant to conventional therapies.

The Phase 1/2 clinical trial enrolled eight patients with extensive prior treatment histories, evaluating the safety and efficacy of Gedeptin's innovative approach. Researchers administered up to five treatment cycles, involving intratumoral injection of Gedeptin followed by intravenous fludarabine administration. Notably, the study yielded promising outcomes, with several patients achieving stable disease despite having undergone multiple previous treatment lines.

Key findings include a median progression-free and overall survival of seven months, with minimal dose-limiting toxicities. The most common adverse event was injection site pain, and serious adverse events were primarily attributed to the underlying disease rather than the treatment itself. These results suggest Gedeptin's potential as a targeted therapeutic strategy for patients with refractory cancers.

The unique mechanism of Gedeptin involves using a non-replicating adenoviral vector encoding a bacterial enzyme that converts a prodrug into a cytotoxic compound, selectively targeting cancer cells. This approach allows for precise tumor targeting, potentially minimizing damage to healthy tissue and offering a novel treatment paradigm for challenging solid tumors.

Building on these promising results, GeoVax is preparing to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial combining Gedeptin with pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug. Preclinical research suggests this combination could enhance immune system response against tumors, potentially improving treatment outcomes for patients with relapsed squamous cell head and neck cancer.

The study's significance lies in its innovative approach to cancer treatment, offering hope for patients with advanced cancers that have proven resistant to conventional therapies. By targeting quiescent tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment, Gedeptin represents a potential breakthrough in personalized cancer treatment strategies.