HCW Biologics Up After University Cleared to Proceed With Solid Tumors Trial

By Michael Dabaie

HCW Biologics Inc. shares were up 8.4%, to $2.19, premarket Monday after the company said the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to evaluate the company's lead drug candidate, HCW9218.

The clearance is for a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors with progressive disease after prior chemotherapies.

HCW9218 is designed to drive anti-tumor activity by activating desired immune responses to attack cancer cells while simultaneously blocking unwanted immunosuppressive activities, the company said.

"Because the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment limits the success of current therapies, there is a critical need for novel immune based therapies for advanced solid tumors," said Melissa A. Geller, principal investigator of the clinical trial and professor and division director of gynecologic oncology in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health at the University of Minnesota.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

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