Vaccinex to Report Promising New Clinical Results of Neoadjuvant Treatment with Pepinemab to Enhance Immunotherapy in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer at ASCO Annual Meeting

Core Insights - Vaccinex, Inc. is presenting new data on pepinemab, a monoclonal antibody targeting SEMA4D, which enhances immune responses in neoadjuvant settings for head and neck cancer [2][5][6] - The upcoming presentation at the ASCO conference will detail how pepinemab treatment correlates with improved pathologic responses by inducing mature lymphoid structures [4][6] Company Overview - Vaccinex, Inc. is focused on innovative treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases through the inhibition of SEMA4D [8] - The lead drug candidate, pepinemab, is designed to block SEMA4D, which is implicated in immune cell infiltration and activation in tumors [7][9] Clinical Research and Development - Pepinemab is being evaluated in combination with other immunotherapies, such as KEYTRUDA and BAVENCIO, in various clinical trials for head and neck cancer and pancreatic adenocarcinoma [9][10] - Previous studies indicate that pepinemab can enhance immune cell interactions and improve treatment outcomes in patients with "cold" tumors, which are typically resistant to standard immunotherapy [5][6] Upcoming Events - The ASCO conference presentation is scheduled for June 1, 2025, focusing on the neoadjuvant biomarker trial of pepinemab in resectable head and neck cancer [4][5]