Verrica Pharmaceuticals Presents New Data on VP-315 from its Phase 2 Clinical Trial in Basal Cell Carcinoma at the 40th Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Annual Meeting

Core Insights - Verrica Pharmaceuticals has presented new data from its Phase 2 study of VP-315, an oncolytic peptide immunotherapy, showing its potential to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and enhance immune response in basal cell carcinoma patients [1][2][3] Study Overview - VP-315 is administered intratumorally and aims to induce immunogenic tumor cell death while promoting anti-tumor immune responses [3] - The Phase 2 study involved 82 subjects with 92 tumors, receiving daily injections of 8 mg VP-315 for 2-3 consecutive days [3] Clinical Outcomes - VP-315 demonstrated a 51% complete histologic clearance rate and an overall 97% objective response rate [5] - The treatment was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported [5] - Patients experienced an 86% overall reduction in tumor size, with a 71% reduction in those with residual carcinomas [5] Immune Microenvironment Analysis - The treatment resulted in significant increases in CD3+, CD3+/CD4+, and CD3+/CD8+ T cell densities, indicating enhanced immune activation [11] - There was also an increase in B-cell infiltration, suggesting activation of humoral immunity [11] - The findings indicate a shift from an immunosuppressive to an anti-tumor state in the tumor microenvironment [6][11] Market Potential - The company views VP-315 as a potential first-in-class, non-surgical immunotherapy for basal cell carcinoma, addressing a significant unmet need in dermatologic oncology [2][8] - The annual incidence of basal cell carcinoma in the U.S. is approximately 3.6 million, highlighting the market opportunity for new treatment options [8]