Evaxion Biotech intends to further increase focus on EVX-01, EVX-02/03 assets

Evaxion Biotech announced that it intends to further increase its focus on its lead oncology assets EVX-01 and EVX-02/03 to bring them to clinical proof of concept followed by out-licensing. The company further plans preclinical partnering of its early-stage programs under its infectious disease platforms. As previously announced by the company, the EVX-01 program recently started to enroll patients in the global Phase IIb trial in metastatic melanoma. At the same time, the Phase I/IIa trial of the DNA-based EVX-02 is progressing as planned, with data readout currently expected by mid-2023. The next-generation DNA vaccine, EVX-03, builds on EVX-02 and holds the potential for even stronger efficacy due to an integrated mechanism that boosts the immune system. The company plans to submit a regulatory filing of EVX-03, following EVX-02 data, which may allow Evaxion to advance EVX-03 faster to clinical proof of concept. "I am deeply impressed by the AI platforms and the quality of the innovative programs that Evaxion has developed. The Company holds several first-in-class assets within oncology and infectious diseases. In the current biotech market, however, we fully acknowledge the increasing need to center our activities. Consequently, our resources will be channeled into our leading clinical assets within personalized cancer immunotherapy," states Per Norlen, the company’s new CEO. Norlen continues: "Our primary focus will be on our Phase IIb program for EVX-01 and our Phase I/IIa program for EVX-02/03. Regarding our early programs for infectious diseases, such as our Staphylococcus aureus vaccine, we aim to develop these in partnerships rather than bringing them into clinical development ourselves."