Vaccinex Initiates Pepinemab Trials for Alzheimer's, Head & Neck Cancer

Vaccinex Inc VCNX has activated first clinical sites to screen and enroll patients in its Phase 1/2 study evaluating pepinemab as a single agent in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in its phase 2 study in combination with Merck & Co Inc's MRK Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for advanced, recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
The Alzheimer's proof-of-concept study is expected to enroll at least 40 patients with key efficacy endpoints that include cognition and brain imaging measures.
This study has received funding support from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and the Alzheimer's Association.
The HNSCC study will enroll up to 65 patients. Efficacy endpoints will focus on objective response rate and progression-free survival, overall survival, and duration of response.
Price Action: VCNX shares are up 5% at $3.15 during the premarket session on the last check Tuesday.