OncoMed Presents Immuno-Oncology Data for GITRL-Fc Candidate at the Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference

NEW YORK and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMED), a clinical-stage company developing novel anti-cancer stem cell and immuno-oncology therapeutics, today presented preclinical data for the company's proprietary, wholly owned GITRL-Fc agent during the afternoon poster session of the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference.

GITRL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of ligands and functions to activate the co-stimulatory receptor GITR (glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptors) to enhance T-cell modulated immune responses. OncoMed's GITRL-Fc agent is engineered using a novel single-gene linkerless GITRL trimer which enables effective GITR activation and robust anti-tumor immune response.

"The single-gene linkerless trimer technology we have created provides a flexible platform for the design of additional immuno-oncology agents, including bispecific agents," said Austin Gurney, PhD, Senior Vice President of Molecular and Cellular Biology. "We observed improved activation of GITR and highly potent single-agent activity using our GITRL fusion protein, and also noted that GITRL-Fc shows strong additivity with other immune checkpoint blockers. These data demonstrate a powerful new class of immunotherapeutic agent."

In a series of preclinical studies presented today, OncoMed's GITRL-Fc agent activated GITR signaling more effectively than an agonist GITR antibody and promoted robust anti-tumor immune responses, including the potentiation of antigen-specific T-cell Th1 type immunity and a reduction of regulatory T-cell (Treg) immune suppressive activity. In multiple murine tumor graft models GITRL-Fc enabled complete eradication of some tumors as a single agent. The combination of GITRL-Fc with anti-PD1 or anti-PDL1 checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated enhanced anti-tumor activity compared to either agent alone.

"We are pleased to have presented research highlighting one of our proprietary immuno-oncology therapeutic agents," said John Lewicki, Chief Scientific Officer of OncoMed.  "OncoMed is actively advancing GITRL-Fc with a goal of filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in 2016. This program further demonstrates our commitment to the ongoing discovery of innovative and next-generation anti-cancer therapies."

Fumiko Axelrod, Senior Scientist II, of OncoMed presented these data in a poster titled "GITRL-Fc, an immunotherapeutic agent that stimulates T-cell-mediated anti-tumor immune response" (Abstract number A058) during Poster Session A.

About OncoMed Pharmaceuticals

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer stem cell and immuno-oncology therapeutics. OncoMed has seven anti-cancer product candidates in clinical development, including demcizumab (anti-DLL4, OMP-21M18), tarextumab (anti-Notch2/3, OMP-59R5), brontictuzumab (anti-Notch1, OMP-52M51), anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific antibody (OMP-305B83), vantictumab (anti-FZD7, OMP-18R5), ipafricept (FZD8-Fc, OMP-54F28), and anti-RSPO3 (OMP-131R10), which each target key cancer stem cell signaling pathways including Notch, Wnt and R-spondin-LGR. OncoMed is also pursuing discovery of additional novel anti-CSC and cancer immunotherapy product candidates. OncoMed has formed strategic alliances with Celgene Corporation, Bayer Pharma AG and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Additional information can be found at the company's website: www.oncomed.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including OncoMed's expectations regarding its single-gene linkerless trimer technology and the activity of the resulting immunotherapeutic agents, including OncoMed's GITRL-Fc product candidate; and OncoMed's ability to advance its GITRL-Fc program and file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application on its GITRL-Fc product candidate in 2016. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause OncoMed's 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, the uncertainties inherent in the preclinical and clinical development process; the risks and uncertainties of the regulatory approval process; OncoMed's dependence on its collaboration partners for the funding of its partnered programs; OncoMed's reliance on third parties to conduct certain preclinical studies and all of its clinical trials; OncoMed's reliance on single source third-party contract manufacturing organizations to manufacture and supply its product candidates; OncoMed's ability to validate, develop and obtain regulatory approval for companion diagnostics; and the ability of competitors to discover, develop or commercialize competing products more quickly or more successfully. OncoMed undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to OncoMed's business in general, see OncoMed's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 12, 2015, OncoMed's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2015 and OncoMed's other periodic reports filed with the SEC.