DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heat Biologics, Inc. ("Heat"), (Nasdaq:HTBX), a clinical stage cancer immunotherapy company, announced that it will present a poster titled "Locally Secreted Fc-OX40L is Superior to Systemic, Antibody Mediated, OX40 Co-Stimulation for Combination Immunotherapy" at the International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference. Heat's poster highlights further findings from the preclinical research conducted with ComPACT, the company's next-generation combination immunotherapy platform. The poster (#B006) will be presented in the Empire Ballroom at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel in New York City from 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2015.
"We are excited to present additional preclinical data from our ComPACT platform demonstrating that vaccination and co-stimulation can be achieved with a single cell-based product. This may simplify clinical development by enhancing the activation of tumor-antigen specific CD8+ T cells, a potent immune response component believed to be instrumental in treating cancer," stated Taylor Schreiber, MD, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer.
ComPACT combines a pan-antigen T cell priming vaccine and T cell co-stimulator in a single product, offering the potential benefits of combination immunotherapy in a single drug without the need for multiple independent biologic products. ComPACT has been engineered to incorporate various fusion proteins targeting co-stimulatory receptors (OX40, ICOS, 4-1BB), enabling the combination of two important immunotherapy pathways in a single drug.
Heat expects to announce its selection of the first product candidate based on the ComPACT platform in the first quarter of 2016.
The International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference will cover all areas of inquiry in cancer immunology and immunotherapy, and is jointly sponsored by the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT), the European Academy of Tumor Immunology (EATI) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
About Heat Biologics, Inc.
Heat Biologics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing its novel, "off-the-shelf" ImPACT and ComPACT therapeutic vaccines to combat a wide range of cancers. Our therapies are designed to deliver live, genetically-modified, irradiated human cells which are reprogrammed to "pump out" a broad spectrum of cancer-associated antigens, together with a potent immune adjuvant called "gp96" to educate and activate a cancer patient's immune system to recognize and kill cancerous cells. Heat is conducting a Phase 2 trial with its vesigenurtacel-L (HS-410) in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, as well as a Phase 1b trial of its viagenpumatucel-L (HS-110) in combination with a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.heatbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions. These statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and include statements regarding the timing of the announcement of the selection of the first product candidate based on the ComPACT platform and the potential benefits that may be derived from ComPACT. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict, including the ability for Heat's ImPACT and ComPACT™ Therapy to perform as designed, the ability to timely enroll patients and complete the clinical trial on time, the other factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and Heat's other filings with the SEC. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release based on new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.