OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2015. NetScientific (AIM: NSCI) notes that portfolio company, PDS Biotechnology Corp., has announced positive preliminary data showing that its lead cancer immunotherapy treatment, PDS0101, has generated strong T-cell responses in pre-cervical cancer.

Currently, pre-cervical cancer is treated by surgical removal of lesions however; PDS0101 could offer an effective non-surgical alternative. Results show that it primes and activates the body's defense mechanisms (T-cells) to recognize, target, and kill precancerous and cancerous cells that display HPV viral proteins, which are responsible for over 99% of cervical cancers. The patient population tested were those most likely to develop invasive cancer as they had little to no pre-treatment immune responses to HPV-16.

The results are the first demonstration of PDS Biotechnology's proprietary synthetic immunotherapy technology, Versamune's®, application in human cancer. They also mirror preclinical data which showed strong T-cell responses and aggressive tumor regression with low doses of the product. The results mark an important step towards the development of next generation therapies to treat early and late stage cancers and suggest that Versamune® could be used by other immuno-oncology platform technologies.

Mike Boyce-Jacino, Executive Director of NetScientific and Director of PDS Biotechnology, said: "We are dedicated to building a unique transformative portfolio and investing in breakthrough therapeutic companies like PDS Biotechnology, which is at the forefront of developing immunotherapeutics.

"PDS Biotechnology's promising results represent an important milestone for the company. The combination of Versamune's® powerful and safe profile helps validate its potential to transform treatments for a wide range of cancers and infectious diseases. We now look forward to seeing the Phase II trials begin."