San Diego-based cancer researcher OncoSec Medical Inc. (OTCBB:ONCS) said that it has treated several patients in an open-label Phase II clinical trial evaluating its OncoSec Medical System (OMS) ElectroImmunotherapy for the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).  The clinical trial is designed to test DNA IL-12 administered using OncoSec’s novel treatment approach for immunotherapy in patients with local and distant Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and deadly skin cancer that currently has very limited treatment options.  The OncoSec trial is the only active immunotherapy trial that is focused specifically on this disease, according to company reports.

The company is working on new treatments for solid tumors at the University of Washington and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in conjunction with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.  The University of Washington is widely-regarded as a world leader in the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma.

A total of up to 15 patients with local and distant Merkel cell carcinoma will be enrolled in the Phase II, single-arm, open-label, multi-center study. Several patients have been enrolled with the first patient successfully completing treatment on January 6, 2012.

“We were impressed by the results of the Phase I study in malignant melanoma patients and strongly believe that OMS ElectroImmunotherapy will be especially effective in an immunogenic cancer such as Merkel cell carcinoma,” said Dr. Shailender Bhatia, principal investigator at the University of Washington.

OMS ElectroImmunotherapy utilizes OncoSec’s proprietary technology to deliver a DNA-based cytokine coded for the immune stimulating agent interleukin-12, or DNA IL-12. The OMS applies short electric impulses to the tumor, causing pores to open in the membrane of cancer cells that significantly increases DNA IL-12 uptake into these cells. Phase I data using OMS ElectroImmunotherapy to treat malignant melanoma demonstrated that this therapy was safe and well tolerated. In addition, 53% of patients with distant metastatic lesions demonstrated an objective response, with 15% of these patients having a complete response to the treatment.

On the technical front, the ONCS stock chart is still looking very bullish. A thinly-traded stock, a small amount of pressure can move it easily in one direction or the other, but the chart is holding the vast majority of its gains since a strong climb off a bottom bounce began in December. Resistance is in front at 80 cents. This chart was a feature technical chart for QualityStocks today and is now posted at http://www.otcshowcase.com/oncosec-medical-stock-chart-analysis-video-stocks/

OncoSec Medical (ONCS) Stock Quote and News:

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