Date: Sep 17, 2013 Source: (
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Ames, IA - September 17, 2013 -- NewLink Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ: NLNK), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company specializing in immunotherapy, today announced that a major milestone has been reached in the IMPRESS (Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Resectable cancer Survival Study) Phase 3 clinical trial of algenpantucel-L. The accrual goal of 722 subjects with surgically resected pancreatic cancer has been met. The study examines the lead product candidate from NewLink's proprietary HyperAcute™ immunotherapy platform, algenpantucel-L, which is designed to stimulate the human immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Two interim analyses and a final analysis are planned for the IMPRESS study. In addition to the IMPRESS trial, algenpantucel-L is also being studied in a second Phase 3 trial involving patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (PILLAR).
"On behalf of the entire NewLink organization, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest gratitude to all the patients who participated in this pivotal study as well as to their families. I would also like to thank all the health care professionals including physicians, nurses and study coordinators who have contributed to the successful enrollment of this landmark trial" commented Charles Link, Jr., M.D., Chairman and CEO of NewLink Genetics.
"Our promising Phase 2 results enabled us to successfully collaborate with many major medical centers and the leaders within those institutions," Dr. Link remarked. "To date, IMPRESS is the largest corporate sponsored resected pancreatic cancer study yet conducted. We are confident in the stringency of this study design and the statistical power provided by the large number of patients participating in this trial as we enthusiastically look forward to the clinical results."
"We are increasingly confident in the progress made with the clinical development of algenpantucel-L," said Nicholas N. Vahanian, M.D., President, Chief Medical Officer of NewLink Genetics. "As we enter a critical data collection and analysis phase of the study we are encouraged by the progress made in such a short period of time. Completion of study enrollment is a critical step towards our mission of bringing better treatment options to pancreatic cancer patients who are in desperate need of more promising alternatives."
About HyperAcute Immunotherapy
NewLink's HyperAcute immunotherapy platform creates novel biologic products that are designed to stimulate the human immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. HyperAcute product candidates are composed of human cancer cells that are tumor specific, but not patient specific. These cells have been modified to express alpha-gal, a carbohydrate for which humans have pre-existing immunity. These alpha-gal-modified cells stimulate a rapid and powerful human immune response that trains the body's natural defenses to seek out and destroy cancer cells. The objective of HyperAcute immunotherapies is to elicit an antitumor response by "educating" the immune system to attack a patient's own cancer cells. HyperAcute immunotherapies do not require any tissue from individual patients and use intact whole cells rather than cell fragments or purified proteins. We believe these unique properties of HyperAcute products result in the stimulation of a robust immune response.
NewLink's lead product candidate, algenpantucel-L (HyperAcute pancreas), is being studied in a Phase 3 trial (IMPRESS: "Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Resectable cancer Survival Study") under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This trial involves up to 722 patients with surgically resected pancreatic cancer. Algenpantucel-L is also being tested in a second Phase 3 study (PILLAR: "Pancreatic Immunotherapy with algenpantucel-L for Locally Advanced non-Resectable"), involving patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
NewLink has several HyperAcute product candidates focused on other tumor types in various stages of development, including tergenpumatucel-L, which is in an adaptive design, randomized Phase 2B/3 clinical trial currently accruing up to 240 patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
About NewLink Genetics Corporation
NewLink is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel immunotherapeutic products to improve treatment options for patients with cancer. NewLink's portfolio includes biologic and small molecule immunotherapy product candidates intended to treat a wide range of oncology indications. NewLink's product candidates are designed to harness multiple components of the immune system to combat cancer without significant incremental toxicity, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatment regimens. For more information please visit http://www.linkp.com. Patient information is available at http://www.pancreaticcancer-clinicaltrials.com.
