“Excellent Survival Outcome” Seen from Treating Mesothelioma with Immunotherapy/Chemotherapy Combination

Malignant mesothelioma is a notoriously challenging and aggressive cancer, but researchers are finding that combining new protocols with traditional forms of treatment is yielding significantly improved results. This morning immune-oncology company Targovax ASA announced that by combining their ONCOS-102 immune activator with Standard of Care chemotherapy as a first-line treatment they were able to help patients achieve a median overall survival of 25 months. This nearly doubled the median overall survival of patients treated with chemotherapy alone.

Phase 1/2 Mesothelioma Trial Added ONCOS-102 to Standard of Care Chemotherapy

Most patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma are treated with both pemetrexed and cisplatin. This combination of chemotherapy drugs has historically offered a median overall survival of 12-to-16 months. By adding ONCOS-102, an innovative immune activator, Targovax’s scientists were able to safely extend that survival time to a median of 25 months. 

The study included 31 patients with malignant mesothelioma and treated twenty with the ONCOS-102/chemotherapy combination and eleven with standard of care chemotherapy alone. Thirty months after the beginning of the trials, the company announced that the subgroup of patients who received the combination had a median overall survival that lasted a full year longer than the group that only received standard of care chemotherapy treatment. 

Median Overall Survival Is Last in Mesothelioma Testing Series

According to Targovax’ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Magnus Jäderberg, the test of median overall survival was the last data set that needed to be completed to gauge the effectiveness and safety of the innovative mesothelioma treatment. The company had already studied objective response rate, progression-free survival and median overall survival, and this thirty-month follow-up analysis completed the series.  All studies revealed that ONCOS-102 provided remodeling of the tumor microenvironment that provided better survival outcomes.

Commenting on the findings, Jäderberg said, “This excellent survival outcome suggests a great promise for ONCOS-102 to benefit mesothelioma patients. The results complement the class-leading ORR and immune activation ONCOS-102 has demonstrated in anti-PD1 resistant melanoma by showing that ONCOS-102 can be used in combination with both chemotherapy and anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibition. Importantly, we have confirmed that ONCOS-102 is active and effective in highly different types of solid tumors in both early and late lines of therapy. Based on the encouraging patient outcomes and deep mechanistic analysis from the phase 1/2 program, we are currently designing and preparing for the next phase in ONCOS-102 clinical development.”

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, positive outcomes like these are extremely encouraging. For access to state-of-the-art treatment, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri