Clinical Trials

Date: 2017-06-08

Type of information: Initiation of development program

phase: 3

Announcement: initiation of development program

Company: Inovio Pharmaceuticals (USA - PA)

Product: VGX-3100

Action mechanism: DNA vaccine/immunotherapy product. VGX-3100 is a DNA-based immunotherapy under investigation for the treatment of HPV-16 and HPV-18 infection and pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix (phase 3) and vulva (phase 2). VGX-3100 works by stimulating a specific immune response to HPV-16 and HPV-18, which targets the infection and causes destruction of pre-cancerous cells. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b study in 167 adult women with histologically documented HPV 16/18 cervical HSIL (CIN2/3), treatment with VGX-3100 resulted in a statistically significantly greater decrease in cervical HSIL and clearance of HPV infection vs. placebo. The most common side effect was injection site pain, and no serious adverse events were reported. VGX-3100 utilizes the patient’s own immune system to clear HPV-16 and HPV-18 infection and pre-cancerous lesions without the increased risks associated with surgery, such as loss of reproductive health and negative psychosocial impacts.

Disease: cervical dysplasia caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)

Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases - Women health - Cancer - Oncology

Country: USA

Trial details:

• Inovio’s phase 3 program, named REVEAL (Randomized Evaluation of VGX-3100 and Electroporation for the Treatment of Cervical HSIL), will consist of a primary study (REVEAL 1) and confirmatory study (REVEAL 2), as per FDA general guidance for phase 3 programs, to be conducted in parallel.
• The studies will each enroll 198 patients in more than 100 study centers globally. Mark Einstein, MD, MS, FACS, FACOG, Professor and Chair Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health Assistant Dean, Clinical Research Unit, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, is Principal Investigator for the studies.The REVEAL studies are prospective, randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating adult women with HPV 16/18 positive biopsy-proven cervical HSIL, otherwise known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or 3. The primary endpoint is regression of cervical HSIL AND virologic clearance of HPV-16 and/or HPV-18 in the cervix. The studies will evaluate cervical tissue changes at approximately 9 months after beginning a three dose regimen of VGX-3100 administered at months 0, 1, and 3. Secondary endpoints include safety; tolerability; regression of CIN 2/3 to CIN 1 or normal; virologic clearance of HPV; efficacy measured by non-progression to cancer; and clearance of HPV from non-cervical anatomic locations.

Latest news: • On June 8, 2017, Inovio Pharmaceuticals announced that it has commenced its phase 3 clinical program to evaluate the efficacy of Inovio’s DNA-based immunotherapy, VGX-3100, to treat cervical dysplasia caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Inovio’s study will assess the efficacy of VGX-3100 in regressing cervical HSIL (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions), a direct precursor to cervical cancer, and eliminating the HPV infection that causes these lesions. The pivotal data from this program will support the potential licensure of VGX-3100 as the first immunotherapy for this disease. Inovio satisfied the FDA’s request for information relating to its CELLECTRA® 5PSP delivery device, resulting in the FDA removing the clinical hold on this program. Inovio plans to immediately begin recruiting patients at the first 15 sites by the end of this month.    

Is general: Yes