• The data was presented at the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Meeting 2019, held in Phoenix.
• With the use of controlled IL-12, reduced tumor burden along with immune-mediated pseudoprogression was noted in monotherapy and combination studies.
• In June 2019, Ziopharm begun a phase 2 trial to assess controlled IL-12 combined with PD-1 antibody Libtayo^®  developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

 Ziopharm Oncology Inc. – a U.S. based biotechnology company reportedly announced the release of analyses from two sub-studies in its controlled IL-12 platform, both as monotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor, towards the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM)

Laurence Cooper., Ph.D. and CEO of Ziopharm was quoted stating that recurrent GBM develops by walling off the immune system thereby damaging it. Apparently, placing IL-12 inside the tumor and then controlling the production of the cytokine, pushes the T cells into the tumor allowing the immune system to adapt, hence leading to anti-cancer activity.  

In February 2019, Ziopharm announced the completion of enrollment of volunteers for an expansion sub-study that broadens the phase 1 clinical trial by an additional 36 patients suffering from rGBM who were given RTS-hIL-12 plus 20 mg/day veledimex for nearly 2 weeks.

During the main study, nearly six volunteers carrying unifocal disease at entry level who were given low-dose steroids were reported to have mOS of approximately 17.8 months. Studies indicate that multifocal GBM is linked to extreme prognosis as compared to unifocal diseases. The data derived from the main study and expansion substudy is steady with the prognosis with mOS of 10,1 months for the patients.

Earlier, the company reported regarding serial biopsies in patients diagnosed with rGBM which depicted controlled IL-12 leading to constant influx of T cells along with upregulation of PD-1 expression.

According to Rimas Lukas, M.D, poster author and Associate Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Department of Neurology, University of Chicago, recurrent GBM is an extremely damaging form of brain cancer with limited successful treatment options.

The controlled IL-12 platform that showcases activity as monotherapy supports fusing controlled Il-12 with PD-1 inhibitor. The combination is built on a justified scientific approach and has produced data regarding relevant immune activity that supports constant developments, he further mentioned. 

For the record, the data backs the continuous development efforts of Ziopharm related to its Ad-RTS – hIL- 12 plus veledimex which is to be used as a solution to control the production of IL-12 in combination with PD-1 inhibition.  

Source Credits: https://ir.ziopharm.com/news-releases/news-release-details/ziopharm-oncology-presents-encouraging-clinical-data-controlled