VCNX - Vaccinex lead candidate flunks Huntington's study shares crater 59%

Results from the early manifest treatment arm (cohort B1, N=179) in a Phase 2 clinical trial, SIGNAL, evaluating Vaccinex's (VCNX) lead candidate pepinemab in early manifest and prodromal Huntington's disease ((HD)) patients failed to meet expectations.Specifically, pepinemab failed to sufficiently separate from placebo on either co-primary efficacy endpoint, two cognitive assessment measures called Huntington’s Disease Cognitive Assessment Battery and Clinical Global Impression of Change ((CGIC)).On a positive note, pepinemanb, a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the signaling of a protein called SEMA4D that plays a key role in the migration and function of immune and inflammatory cells, was well-tolerated with low discontinuation rates over the extended 18-month treatment period.A new collaboration with Merck (MRK) testing the combination of pepinemab and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in head and neck cancer patients should launch in early 2021.Shares down 59% premarket on robust volume.Wall Street is Very Bullish.

For further details see:

Vaccinex lead candidate flunks Huntington's study, shares crater 59%