Researchers from GeoVax Labs have reported encouraging results for Gedeptin, a gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy targeting solid tumors, during the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting.
The Phase 1/2 clinical trial focused on eight patients with advanced head and neck cancers who had undergone multiple prior treatments. Participants received up to five treatment cycles involving intratumoral Gedeptin injection followed by intravenous fludarabine administration.
Key findings revealed several patients achieved stable disease, with median progression-free and overall survival of 7.0 months. Notably, the treatment demonstrated minimal adverse effects, with injection site pain being the most common side effect.
The unique mechanism of Gedeptin involves using a viral vector to deliver an enzyme that converts a prodrug into a cytotoxic compound, selectively targeting cancer cells. This approach potentially offers a novel strategy for treating challenging solid tumors.
GeoVax is planning a Phase 2 clinical trial combining Gedeptin with pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, to potentially enhance treatment effectiveness. The company believes this approach could sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint inhibitors, offering new hope for patients with refractory cancers.
The research represents a significant step in developing targeted cancer therapies that could provide more precise and less toxic treatment options for patients with advanced malignancies.
