(CercleFinance.com) – Transgene shares were boosted on the Paris Stock Exchange on Monday by the announcement of the positive results of clinical trials concerning its treatment of solid tumors, such as melanoma.
Initial phase I data demonstrated that the oncolytic virus BT-001, co-developed with Sweden’s BioInvent, was well tolerated, with first signs of antitumor activity observed in this difficult-to-treat population.
Several days after administration, the virus was found in tumors, suggesting that BT-001 is able to replicate in tumors.
In contrast, no spread of BT-001 in blood or biological fluids was detected, suggesting high tumor specificity.
A reduction in the size of the tumor was even observed in a patient from the first cohort, specifies Transgene in a press release.
Part A of the trial – which aims to establish the tolerance of BT-001 and which has treated 12 patients to date – should be followed by the launch of a part B, scheduled for the second half of 2022.
The second part of the phase I study should more specifically relate to the combination of BT-001 administered intratumorally with pembrolizumab (an anti-PD1 antibody) administered intravenously.
The Transgene title rose by more than 8% on Monday in the first exchanges after these announcements, while the Paris market only advanced by 0.8%.