Transgene SA, a member of the Institut Mérieux Group, has planned to start phase Ib/II trial with Pexa-Vec which is being funded by the Institut National du Cancer (INCa). This trial will be part of an INCa-funded programme called CLIP², that is facilitating patient access to innovative treatments and promoting global exchanges in cutting edge research that involve academic-initiated research and novel therapies being developed by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

“We are pleased with the interest shown to further develop Pexa-Vec by INCa. It is noteworthy that Transgene will be one of the first biotechnology companies to have a trial funded by INCa,” said Philippe Archinard, chairman and chief executive officer of Transgene.

Archinard further added, “This trial complements the development plan we are finalizing with our partners, which is expected to include a global phase III trial in advanced liver cancer, as well as exploratory and supportive phase II studies in a variety of cancer types and with various other therapies. We look forward to providing soon a more comprehensive update on our plans for Pexa-Vec once our partner SillaJen’s acquisition of Jennerex has closed.”

The phase Ib/II trial will evaluate Pexa-Vec in combination with metronomic cyclophosphamide, a drug used in combination with other therapies to treat a wide variety of cancers. The trial, expected to be initiated later in 2014, is sponsored by Bergonié Institute (Bordeaux, France).

Pexa-Vec (JX594/TG6006 pexastimogene devacirepvec) is an engineered oncolytic vaccinia virus armed with a GM-CSF gene that promotes an anti-tumor immune response. Pexa-Vec is designed to selectively target and destroy cancer cells through three different mechanisms of action: the lysis (breakdown) of cancer cells through viral replication, the reduction of the blood supply to tumours through vascular targeting and disruption, and the stimulation of the body's immune response against cancer cells.  Clinical trials are ongoing or planned in hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), colorectal cancer, as well as other tumour types.

Transgene has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Pexa-Vec for the treatment of solid tumours in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Middle East.

Transgene is publicly traded French biopharmaceutical company focused on  discovering, developing and manufacturing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of oncology and infectious diseases.