CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSE MKT: CVM) today announced that the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center has becomes the 7th clinical site in the U.S. to join its Phase III head and neck cancer clinical trial of its investigational cancer immunotherapy treatment Multikine* (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection).
CEL-SCI’s study is currently being conducted at about 60 active clinical centers on three continents and is expected to expand from 17 countries to a 20 countries with an estimated 880 patients to be enrolled by the end of 2015. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, head and neck cancers account for about 3% to 5% of all cancers in the United States.
The Masonic Cancer Center creates a collaborative research environment focused on the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer; applying that knowledge to improve quality of life for patients and survivors; and sharing its discoveries with other scientists, students, professionals, and the community. It is one of only 41 institutions in the U.S. to become a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. With more than 500 faculty and staff members, the Masonic Cancer Center is home to some of the world’s top cancer researchers.
The Principal Investigator of CEL-SCI’s Phase III study at this site is Dr. Gautam Jha, Assistant Professor and Medical Oncologist, at the University of Minnesota’s Medical School. Dr. Jha’s interests focus on solid tumor oncology including genito-urinary malignancies and head and neck tumors. His research interests include developing immune-based therapies by disrupting Treg mediated immune suppression in patients with cancers of prostate and head and neck. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer.
“Dr. Jha’s research interests and expertise in immunotherapies for the treatment of head and neck cancer is an asset for our study, as well as for the patients to be enrolled and treated at the Masonic Cancer Center,” stated CEL-SCI Chief Executive Officer Geert Kersten. “We are pleased to see more top-notch cancer centers joining our clinical trial.”
