ViRexx Medical has reported that results from a phase II trial of OvaRex MAb showed that the drug boosted immune response in patients with advanced ovarian cancer when added to standard chemotherapy treatment.
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The study was conducted by ViRexx’s licensing partner, Unither Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation. Patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer were treated by surgery and then by front-line chemotherapy in combination with OvaRex MAb. The trial demonstrated that cellular and humoral (antibody) immune responses to OvaRex MAb treatment were preserved and in fact enhanced when administered with front-line treatment.
“These results demonstrate that the immune response to OvaRex MAb can be enhanced when it is administered in conjunction with chemotherapy,” said Peter Smetek, interim CEO and chairman of ViRexx. “This demonstration of an augmented immune response is an important step. While these results are from a preliminary 40 patient trial, we are encouraged by the favorable humoral, cellular, and clinical results associated with the concurrent administration of OvaRex MAb and chemotherapy.”
The Canadian-based biotech said that the results warranted further study.