(Tromsø 13th May 2018) The ongoing vaccine study with Soluble Beta-Glucan (SBG®)
from Biotec Pharmacon ("Biotec", OSE: BIOTEC) as an oral adjuvant shows very
promising treatment effects in children with relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma.
The immuno-oncology investigators in New York, interpret a promising adjuvant
effect of SBG® on cancer vaccine.
"The results (outlined below) offer further hope for children with
Neuroblastoma. Additionally, this vaccine/SBG® treatment regime has an excellent
safety profile with no observable side-effects", states Chief Scientific
Officer, Rolf Engstad.
The investigator team for the ongoing vaccine study with anti-GD2 vaccine
combined with oral administered SBG® has presented new data from 84 patients
with relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma at the "Advances in Neuroblastoma Research
2018" conference in San Francisco.
The new data strongly support the initial findings presented in 2014 from the 15
-patient population cohort in the phase I part of the trial, where the two-year
overall survival rate was as high as 92%. In the current phase II part of the
study, having treated additional 84 patients, the 2-year overall survival (OS)
rate was still 90%, with a progression free survival (PFS) rate of 51%.
The long-term survival rate in this patient population, with relapsed high-risk
neuroblastoma, has been less than 20% before introduction of immunotherapeutic
treatment regimes. The study thus gives promise for a significant improvement in
survival rate in this patient group.
When investigating the antibody response to the vaccine, a strong correlation
was observed between high antibody titre to the vaccine, and prognosis for both
improved progression free survival and overall survival. In this high response
subgroup, the overall survival is currently 100% five years into the trial.
Furthermore, a strong increase in the antibody response was observed with the
start of administering SBG® as an oral adjuvant in the combined treatment. The
initial justification of using SBG® in this combination was to strengthen the
effector functions after an initial immune response was established, but the new
data now indicate that SBG® also contributes in inducing an improved immune
response to the vaccine itself. This holds promise for the potential use of SBG®
as an oral adjuvant to increase the protective effects of other vaccines.
The role of SBG® as an adjuvant to improve the initial immune response to the
vaccine, will be investigated in a follow-up trial.
"The results presented by the investigators are very promising. Biotec Pharmacon
will now use the results from the Phase II trial to investigate how to further
develop SBG® from both a clinical and strategic point of view", says CEO
Christian Jørgensen.
For more information, please contact:
Christian Jørgensen
CEO
Tel +47 47 79 24 57
Chistian.jorgensen@biotec.no
About Biotec BetaGlucans AS:
Biotec BetaGlucans is a wholly owned subsidiary of Biotec Pharmacon ASA. Biotec
BetaGlucans develops and manufactures novel immunomodulating products for
business areas including Woulgan®, a premium priced product in the advanced
wound care market, animal feed, consumer health, cosmetics, medical devices and
pharmaceuticals.
About Biotec Pharmacon ASA:
Biotec Pharmacon ASA is the parent company of Biotec BetaGlucans AS and
ArcticZymes AS. ArcticZymes develops, produces and markets enzymes of marine
origin used in molecular DNA technologies and diagnostics, representing growth
markets where rapid technological developments are creating a strong demand for
new and improved enzymes.