PLXNB1

In addition to cognitive benefit, pepinemab is believed to preserve vascular integrity in brain, a key consideration to avoid toxicity in Alzheimer’s diseaseROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vaccinex, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a differentiated approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cancer through the inhibition of Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D), today announced that it will present promising new efficacy and safety data for its randomized, double-blind, phase 1b/2 SIGNAL-AD study of pepinemab treatment for Alzheimer’s disease at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Conference in Madrid, on October 31, 2024. Elizabeth Evans, PhD, Chief Operating Officer and Senior VP Discovery and Translational Medicine, will present results of the study in a podium presentation. Presentation title: Results of SIGNAL-AD, a randomized, phase 1b/2 trial to evaluate safety and efficacy of pepinemab, anti-SEMA4D antibody believed to block reactive astrogliosis, in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Mild Dementia due to AD Presenter: Elizabeth Evans, PhD Date: Thursday October 31, 2024, 2:55 PM Central European Time, 9:55 AM EDT. Venue: Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel and Conference Center What can we expect to learn from results of this study? Vaccinex scientists discovered and published that Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D), a molecule that binds to high affinity plexin-B1 receptors expressed on astrocytes in the brain, is highly upregulated on stressed or damaged neurons during progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)Astrocytes, which are key brain cells that support the health and function of neurons, undergo extensive changes in morphology and gene expression when SEMA4D binds to their receptors. They switch from normal supportive functions to neurotoxic inflammatory activity that is believed to aggravate and accelerate progression of AD.The Company’s hypothesis, which is being tested in the SIGNAL-AD study, is that treating with pepinemab antibody that binds SEMA4D can block signaling through astrocyte receptors and slow or prevent the damaging consequences of astrocyte activation.The Company has previously reported that antibody blockade of SEMA4D appears to protect healthy astrocyte functions and to slow disease progression in patients with Huntington’s disease.Key outcomes of the SIGNAL-AD study include the impact of pepinemab treatment on cognitive decline as well as biomarkers of disease progression.Deposition of Aβ amyloid in the brain is currently the earliest recognized event in the pathologic cascade leading to AD. Aggregates of Aβ are believed to trigger a series of subsequent events, including astrocyte reactivity and formation of toxic tau tangles in neurons, which are believed to be key drivers of neurodegeneration. Levels of soluble biomarkers, such as astrocyte protein glial fibrillary acidic protein and phosphorylated tau peptide (p-tau 217), are, therefore, key biomarkers of disease progression, and it is important to characterize expression of these biomarkers in relation to treatment effects.Some currently approved drugs have been reported to compromise the integrity of brain vasculature leading to inflammation and microhemorrhages. Vaccinex will report evidence from new preclinical models suggesting beneficial effects of pepinemab treatment on brain vasculature. The SIGNAL-AD study was funded in part by a grant from the Alzheimer’s Association as well as by investments from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). About PepinemabPepinemab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to block SEMA4D, which can otherwise bind to plexin-B1 receptors to trigger collapse of the actin cytoskeleton in cells and lead to loss of homeostatic functions of astrocytes and other glial cells in the brain and of dendritic cells in immune tissue. Pepinemab appears to have been well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in multiple clinical trials in different neurological and cancer indications. About Vaccinex Inc. Vaccinex, Inc. is pioneering a differentiated approach to treating slowly progressive neurodegenerative diseases and cancer through the inhibition of semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D). The Company’s lead drug candidate, pepinemab, blocks SEMA4D, a potent biological effector that it believes triggers damaging inflammation in chronic diseases of the brain and prevents infiltration and activation of immune cells in tumors. Pepinemab is being studied as a monotherapy in the Phase 1b/2 SIGNAL-AD study in Alzheimer’s Disease, and the Company has previously published promising Phase 2 data in Huntington’s disease. Pepinemab could be an important contributor to combination therapy in AD. In oncology, pepinemab is being evaluated in combination with KEYTRUDA® in the Phase 1b/2 KEYNOTE-B84 study in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (HNSCC) and in combination with BAVENCIO® in a Phase 1b/2 study in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The oncology clinical program also includes several investigator-sponsored studies in solid tumors including breast cancer and melanoma. Vaccinex has global commercial and development rights to pepinemab and is the sponsor of the KEYNOTE-B84 study which is being performed in collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck and Co, Inc. Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Additional information about the study is available at: clinicaltrials.gov. KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. BAVENCIO®/avelumab is provided by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, previously as part of an alliance between the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer. Forward Looking StatementsTo the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Vaccinex, Inc. (“Vaccinex,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), they are forward-looking statements reflecting management’s current beliefs and expectations. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about expectations and objectives with respect to the results and timing of the SIGNAL-AD clinical trial; expectations with respect to compliance with Nasdaq listing standards; our plans, expectations and objectives with respect to the results and timing of the SIGNAL-AD and KEYNOTE-B84 clinical trials; the use and potential benefits of pepinemab in R/M HNSCC, lung cancer, metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and other indications; the potential for benefits as compared to single agent KEYTRUDA® or BAVENCIO®; expectations with respect to the collaboration of Merck,; and other statements identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plans,” “schedule,” “being,” “will,” “appears,” “expect,” “ongoing,” “potential,” “promising,” “suggest”, and similar expressions or their negatives (as well as other words and expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances). Forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome of our research and pre-clinical development programs, clinical development programs, future results, performance, or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, uncertainties inherent in the execution, cost and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials, that interim and preliminary data may not be predictive of final results and does not ensure success in later clinical trials, uncertainties related to regulatory approval, risks related to our dependence on our lead product candidate pepinemab, the possible delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq if the Company is unable to regain and sustain compliance with the Nasdaq listing standards, and other matters that could affect our development plans or the commercial potential of our product candidates. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, see the section titled “Risk Factors” in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s annual year-end Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC. Investor ContactElizabeth Evans, PhDChief Operating Officer, Vaccinex, Inc.(585) 271-2700eevans@vaccinex.com

Results affirm expectation of a novel mechanism of action targeting astrocyte activation to delay progression of Alzheimer’s disease from early stage Mild Cognitive Impairment Findings echo previous phase 2 results in Huntington’s disease based on similarities to neuroimmune pathology in Alzheimer’s ROCHESTER, NY, USA I July 31, 2024 I Vaccinex, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with anti-Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D) antibody, today announced positive results of its early stage SIGNAL-AD clinical trial of pepinemab antibody in AD. Topline results were presented by Eric Siemers, MD, Principal Investigator of the SIGNAL-AD trial, at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia. The clinical trial met its designated primary endpoint of safety by indicating that pepinemab is well-tolerated by patients with AD. No Serious Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE) Related to Treatment were reported by investigators at any of the 16 clinical sites that participated in this study. The only TEAE leading to discontinuation in the entire trial was in the placebo group. Vaccinex had previously reported that pepinemab (VX15/2503) was well-tolerated by patients with Huntington’s disease (HD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). An important secondary endpoint of the study was to determine whether pepinemab prevents decline in brain metabolic activity consistent with blocking astrocyte reactivity as evidenced by an increase in FDG-PET imaging signal in a major brain region known to be affected by disease progression. This was determined over the course of 12-months treatment with pepinemab relative to placebo. We report that pepinemab treatment resulted in a statistically significant increase (p=0.0297) in FDG-PET signal in the medial temporal cortex of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to AD. The medial temporal region of brain includes hippocampus and entorhinal cortex known to be affected during early disease progression in many patients with MCI . A similar significant result of pepinemab treatment on brain metabolic activity was previously shown in our phase 2 study of HD which we believe highlights mechanistic similarities in the pathology of these two neurodegenerative diseases. Although the present study was not sufficiently powered to detect cognitive effects or changes in some additional secondary endpoints with statistical significance, we previously reported that, in a larger study that enrolled approximately 90 HD patients/arm with early symptoms of cognitive deficits, seemingly similar to MCI in AD, pepinemab treatment improved performance on key cognitive and psychological measures. Business Considerations “We believe that results of the SIGNAL-AD study demonstrate that pepinemab has a similar effect in Alzheimer’s to those we previously described for a key outcome in Huntington’s disease, preventing the characteristic disease-related decline of brain metabolic activity in a brain region known to be affected early in disease progression,” said the Company’s CEO, Maurice Zauderer, PhD. This positive data release suggests that pepinemab has the potential to benefit patients with MCI due to AD. AD and HD share important pathological features and clinical symptoms, and we believe our approach of confirming similar treatment effects of pepinemab in these two different neurodegenerative diseases is strongly supportive of pepinemab as a potentially well-tolerated and effective treatment for both Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease.” “Our study indicates that pepinemab may be most effective in patients with very early stage symptoms, e.g. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to AD, but not subsequent dementia,” Dr. Zauderer added. “This suggests that a promising treatment strategy would be to identify people with MCI as early as possible and to treat with pepinemab to keep them from progressing for as long as possible. We believe that, to date, no disease modifying therapy has been shown to be effective in later stages of AD dementia. Perhaps for AD, as for cancer, if you wait, new pathologies come into play and drugs that may have been helpful earlier become less effective.” The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 12% to 18% of people aged 60 or older are living with MCI due to AD and that about one-third of these patients will develop dementia within five years. A drug that can slow progression of MCI could significantly extend a rewarding and productive life for people at risk. Pepinemab has been well-tolerated in clinical trials that enrolled a total of more than 600 patients primarily in neurological indications, AD, HD, and MS. Current concerns about the limitations of treatment with approved anti-Aβ amyloid antibodies such as Leqembi™ (Eisai and Biogen) and Kisunla™ (Eli Lilly) might make pepinemab, if approved, attractive as either an alternative for patients at high risk for adverse events related to treatment with Leqembi or Kisunla, or as a complementary treatment that might enhance the benefit to patients of treatment with such anti-Aβ antibodies. The SIGNAL-AD study was funded in part by a grant from the Alzheimer’s Association as well as by investments from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). Vaccinex is actively exploring the potential for continuing late stage development in AD together with a major pharmaceutical partner. About the SIGNAL-AD trial (NCT04381468) The NCT04381468, or SIGNAL-AD, trial is a Phase 1b/2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of pepinemab in 50 patients who have MCI due to AD or early Alzheimer’s dementia, with amyloid positive status and CDR-GS of 0.5-1 and MMSE 17-26. The study’s primary endpoint related to safety and tolerability; secondary endpoint includes assessment of brain metabolic activity determined by FDG-PET. Patients received pepinemab (40 mg/kg) randomized 1:1 to placebo, every four weeks for 12 intravenous infusions. Prior clinical results of pepinemab treatment for Huntington’s disease indicate that pepinemab may be capable of preventing decline in brain metabolic activity consistent with blocking astrocyte reactivity and associated with apparent improvements in cognition (NCT02481674). Results of the Phase 2 NCT02481674 trial were published in Nature Medicine , December 2022. About Pepinemab Pepinemab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to block SEMA4D, which can otherwise bind to plexin-B1 receptors to trigger collapse of the actin cytoskeleton in cells and lead to loss of homeostatic functions of astrocytes and other glial cells in the brain and of dendritic cells in immune tissue. Pepinemab appears to have been well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in multiple clinical trials in different neurological and cancer indications. About Vaccinex Inc. Vaccinex, Inc. is pioneering a differentiated approach to treating slowly progressive neurodegenerative diseases and cancer through the inhibition of semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D). The Company’s lead drug candidate, pepinemab, blocks SEMA4D, a potent biological effector that it believes triggers damaging inflammation in chronic diseases of the brain and prevents infiltration and activation of immune cells in tumors. Pepinemab was studied as a monotherapy in the Phase 1b/2 SIGNAL-AD study in Alzheimer’s Disease, and the Company has previously published promising Phase 2 data in Huntington’s disease. Vaccinex believes pepinemab could also be an important contributor to combination therapy in AD. In oncology, pepinemab is being evaluated in combination with KEYTRUDA ® in the Phase 1b/2 KEYNOTE-B84 study in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (HNSCC) and in combination with BAVENCIO ® in a Phase 1b/2 study in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The oncology clinical program also includes several investigator-sponsored studies in solid tumors including breast cancer and melanoma. Vaccinex has global commercial and development rights to pepinemab and is the sponsor of the KEYNOTE-B84 study which is being performed in collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck and Co, Inc. Kenilworth, NJ, USA. SOURCE: Vaccinex

Pepinemab is believed to block astrocyte reactivity, a key pathology driving Alzheimer’s progressionROCHESTER, N.Y., July 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vaccinex, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a differentiated approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cancer through the inhibition of Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D), today announced that it will present topline data for its randomized, double-blind, phase 1b/2 SIGNAL-AD study of pepinemab treatment for Alzheimer’s disease at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, July 28- Aug 1, 2024. Eric Siemers, MD, Principal Investigator, will present results of the study in a Featured Research Session. Presentation title: Results of SIGNAL-AD, a randomized, phase 1b/2 trial to evaluate safety and efficacy of targeting reactive astrocytes with pepinemab, SEMA4D blocking antibody, in people with MCI or mild Alzheimer’s dementia Presenter: Eric Siemers, MD Featured Research Session: Glial biomarkers and Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics Date: Wednesday July 31st, 2024. 9:00 AM EST. Venue: Ballroom A, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA What can we expect to learn from results of this study? Vaccinex scientists discovered and published that SEMA4D, a molecule that binds to high affinity plexin-B1 receptors predominantly expressed on astrocytes in the brain, is highly upregulated on stressed or damaged neurons during progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)Astrocytes, which are key brain cells that support the health and function of neurons, undergo substantial changes in morphology and gene expression when SEMA4D binds to their plexin-B1 receptors. As a result, they switch from normal supportive functions to neurotoxic inflammatory activity that is believed to aggravate and accelerate progression of AD.The Company’s hypothesis, which is being tested in the SIGNAL-AD study, is that treating with pepinemab antibody that binds SEMA4D can block signaling through its receptor on astrocytes and slow or prevent the damaging consequences of astrocyte activation.The Company has previously reported that antibody blockade of SEMA4D appears to protect healthy astrocyte functions and to slow disease progression in patients with early manifest Huntington’s disease by several different biomarker and clinical measures. An important goal of the present study is to determine whether pepinemab treatment is effective at one or more defined stages of AD progression.Key outcomes of the SIGNAL-AD study will include safety and tolerability and the impact of pepinemab treatment on brain metabolic activity determined by FDG-PET and astrocyte reactivity as detected by plasma levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a molecule known to be released into blood by reactive astrocytes and believed to be a key biomarker of disease progression.Deposition of Aβ amyloid in the brain is currently the earliest recognized event in the pathologic cascade leading to AD. Aggregates of Aβ are believed to trigger a series of subsequent events, including astrocyte reactivity and formation of toxic tau tangles in neurons, believed to be key drivers of neurodegeneration. It is, therefore, of considerable interest to determine whether blocking SEMA4D-induced astrocyte reactivity might also slow disease progression as evidenced by increasing plasma levels of phosphorylated tau peptide (p-tau 217), a biomarker released into blood during formation of tau tangles in neurons.The Company believes that the prevalence of AD (6 million people diagnosed with AD in the US alone) and current concerns about the limitations of treatment with approved anti-Aβ amyloid antibodies such as Leqembi™ (lecanemab) or Kisunla™ (donanemab) could make pepinemab, if approved, attractive as either an alternative for patients at high risk for adverse events related to treatment with Leqembi™ or Kisunla™, or as a complementary treatment to further enhance the benefit of anti-Aβ antibodies to patients. In this regard, it is important that pepinemab has a very different mechanism of action than anti-Aβ antibodies. Pepinemab has, to date, been well-tolerated in clinical trials that enrolled a total of more than 600 patients. The SIGNAL-AD study was funded in part by a grant from the Alzheimer’s Association as well as by investments from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). About PepinemabPepinemab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to block SEMA4D, which can otherwise bind to plexin-B1 receptors to trigger collapse of the actin cytoskeleton in cells and lead to loss of homeostatic functions of astrocytes and other glial cells in the brain and of dendritic cells in immune tissue. Pepinemab appears to have been well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in multiple clinical trials in different neurological and cancer indications. About Vaccinex Inc.Vaccinex, Inc. is pioneering a differentiated approach to treating slowly progressive neurodegenerative diseases and cancer through the inhibition of semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D). The Company’s lead drug candidate, pepinemab, blocks SEMA4D, a potent biological effector that it believes triggers damaging inflammation in chronic diseases of the brain and prevents infiltration and activation of immune cells in tumors. Pepinemab is being studied as a monotherapy in the Phase 1b/2 SIGNAL-AD study in Alzheimer’s Disease, and the Company has previously published promising Phase 2 data in Huntington’s disease. Pepinemab could be an important contributor to combination therapy in AD. In oncology, pepinemab is being evaluated in combination with KEYTRUDA® in the Phase 1b/2 KEYNOTE-B84 study in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (HNSCC) and in combination with BAVENCIO® in a Phase 1b/2 study in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The oncology clinical program also includes several investigator-sponsored studies in solid tumors including breast cancer and melanoma. Vaccinex has global commercial and development rights to pepinemab and is the sponsor of the KEYNOTE-B84 study which is being performed in collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck and Co, Inc. Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Additional information about the study is available at: clinicaltrials.gov. KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. BAVENCIO®/avelumab is provided by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, previously as part of an alliance between the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer. Forward Looking StatementsTo the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Vaccinex, Inc. (“Vaccinex,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), they are forward-looking statements reflecting management’s current beliefs and expectations. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about expectations and objectives with respect to the results and timing of the SIGNAL-AD clinical trial; expectations with respect to compliance with Nasdaq listing standards; our plans, expectations and objectives with respect to the results and timing of the SIGNAL-AD and KEYNOTE-B84 clinical trials; the use and potential benefits of pepinemab in R/M HNSCC, lung cancer, metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and other indications; the potential for benefits as compared to single agent KEYTRUDA® or BAVENCIO®; expectations with respect to the collaboration of Merck, the potential to initiate a Phase 3 trial in Huntington’s disease; and other statements identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plans,” “schedule,” “being,” “will,” “appears,” “expect,” “ongoing,” “potential,” “promising,” “suggest”, and similar expressions or their negatives (as well as other words and expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances). Forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome of our research and pre-clinical development programs, clinical development programs, future results, performance, or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, uncertainties inherent in the execution, cost and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials, that interim and preliminary data may not be predictive of final results and does not ensure success in later clinical trials, uncertainties related to regulatory approval, risks related to our dependence on our lead product candidate pepinemab, the possible delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq if the Company is unable to regain and sustain compliance with the Nasdaq listing standards, and other matters that could affect our development plans or the commercial potential of our product candidates. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, see the section titled “Risk Factors” in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s annual year-end Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC. Investor ContactElizabeth Evans, PhDChief Operating Officer, Vaccinex, Inc.(585) 271-2700eevans@vaccinex.com