NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SLS) (SELLAS) today announced that an abstract highlighting the detailed description of antigen-specific immune responses and correlation thereof with clinical effects over time has been accepted for oral presentation at the 2018 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) 44th Annual Meeting taking place March 18-21 in Lisbon, Portugal.
“The abstract to be presented at the EBMT Conference highlights the depth of our clinical program exploring the potential of GPS as an innovative immunotherapeutic for multiple cancer types,” said Angelos M. Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c., President and CEO of SELLAS. “There has been great interest in immuno-oncology approaches for the treatment of MM and GPS offers an exciting opportunity by directly immunizing the host against a key immune target in multiple myeloma, namely WT1, particularly in view of strong differentiating attributes of our hetereoclitic immunotherapeutic as well as the other indications we are carefully pursuing.”
Multiple myeloma (MM) patients with high-risk cytogenetics at baseline who also remain positive for minimal residual disease post-frontline autologous stem cell transplantation continue to experience poor clinical outcomes, despite maintenance with immunomodulatory drugs, such as lenalidomide. This is a population segment that represents approximately 15-20% of first-line MM patients. In previous reports, such patients immunized with GPS in a Phase 2 study (n=18) experienced a median progression-free survival of 23.6 months and an 18 month overall survival of 88%.
The presentation at the EBMT Conference will entail detailed correlative analyses between clinical benefit, as reflected by the rate of achievement of complete response/very good partial response, per International Myeloma Working Group criteria, and antigen-specific immuno-responses of the complete dataset from this Phase 2 study.
Details for the presentation are as follows:
- Title: Clinical Benefit after Galinpepimut-S (GPS), a WT1 Immunotherapeutic, Correlates With Antigen-Specific Immune Responses in High-Risk Multiple Myeloma: Complete Analysis of the Phase 2 GPS Maintenance Study.
- Presenter: Guenther Koehne, MD, PhD, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida
- Session: Oral Session 4 – Multiple Myeloma; Room 5B
- Abstract Number: A-947-0029-01047
- Date/Time: March 19, 2018, 3:50 p.m WET/ 10:50 a.m. EST
- Location: Centro de Congressos de Lisboa / Lisbon Congress Centre (LCC), Room 5B
The presentation will be made available on the Presentations section of Sellas’ website at www.sellaslifesciences.com/publications immediately following the presentation.
About galinpepimut-S (GPS)
GPS is a heteroclitic multivalent, multi-peptide cancer immunotherapeutic agent composed of four peptides, addressing over 20 epitopes, and derived from the WT1 protein, which has been ranked by the National Cancer Institute as a top priority among cancer antigens for immunotherapy. Importantly, because the WT1 antigen is over-expressed in many malignancies, and is not found in most normal tissues, GPS has the potential to be a broad immunotherapy, effective across a multitude of diverse cancer types and patient populations.
About SELLAS Life Sciences Group
SELLAS is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel cancer immunotherapeutics for a broad range of cancer indications. SELLAS' lead product candidate, galinpepimut-S (GPS), is licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and targets the Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) protein, which is present in an array of tumor types. GPS has potential as a monotherapy or in combination to address a broad spectrum of hematologic malignancies and solid tumor indications. GPS has Phase 3 clinical trials planned (pending funding availability) for two indications, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and malignant pleural mesotheliomia (MPM). It is also in development as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer. SELLAS plans to study GPS in up to four additional indications. SELLAS recently received Orphan Drug designations from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), as well as the European Medicines Agency, for GPS in AML and MPM; GPS also received Fast Track designation for AML and MPM from the FDA.
For more information on SELLAS, please visit www.sellaslifesciences.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the presentation of data and the ability to further develop galinpepimut-S for a broad range of cancer indications. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions, and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with cancer immunotherapy product development and clinical success thereof, attaining and maintenance of adequate IP protection, the uncertainty of regulatory approval, and other risks and uncertainties affecting SELLAS and its development programs. Risks and uncertainties facing SELLAS are more fully described in SELLAS’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Other risks and uncertainties of which SELLAS is not currently aware may also affect SELLAS’ forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date hereof. SELLAS undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made.
Investor Contact:
Will O’Connor
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200
ir@sellaslife.com
David Moser, JD
SELLAS Life Sciences Group
813-864-2571
info@sellaslife.com
Source: SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.