MabVax Therapeutics Studies Lead Investigational Drug MVT-5873 with Halozyme PEGPH20

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBVX), a clinical stage immuno-oncology drug development company, today announced results from a pre-clinical study evaluating the potential benefits of using MabVax's HuMab-5B1antibody, MVT-5873, currently in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer with Halozyme Therapeutic's (NASDAQ: HALO) investigational drug PEGPH20, which targets the tumor microenvironment potentially allowing increased access of co-administered cancer drug therapies to solid tumors.  PEGPH20 is currently in phase III clinical development for metastatic pancreatic cancer and in phase I clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, and metastatic breast cancer.

Results from the preclinical study were positive demonstrating improvement in accumulation of MVT-5873 on tumors in an animal model of pancreatic cancer when administered in sequence with PEGPH20.

"Initiating preclinical investigations of MVT-5873 in combination with Halozyme's PEGPH20 provides a new potential treatment strategy combining the tumor penetration ability of PEGPH20 with the anti-tumor effects of MVT-5873," stated President and Chief Executive Officer J. David Hansen. "The initial pre-clinical collaboration combining our antibody with Halozyme's unique therapy was encouraging and more comprehensive pre-clinical studies will now be undertaken. The potential of combining MVT-5873 with PEGPH20 could represent a significant step forward in the fight against pancreatic cancer. The results of these investigations will provide insight into broader applications of the PEGPH20 technology to other HuMab-5B1 programs including the Company's immuno-PET imaging agent MVT-2163 that is also in phase I clinical trials, and the radioimmunotherapy product MVT-1075 that is planned for clinical evaluation early this year."

About MVT-5873
MVT-5873 is currently in a phase I clinical trial that is designed to establish safety and determine the recommended phase II dose both as monotherapy, and in combination with a standard of care chemotherapy using nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine.  MabVax recently reported that the safety of MVT-5873 had been established at three incremental dose levels which was determined to be sufficient according to the protocol for investigators to begin enrolling and dosing patients with previously untreated pancreatic cancer receiving a standard of care chemotherapy.

About MabVax
MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of antibody-based products to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of cancer.  MabVax has discovered a pipeline of human monoclonal antibody products based on the protective immune responses generated by patients who have been vaccinated against targeted cancers with the Company's proprietary vaccines.  MabVax's HuMab-5B1 antibody is fully human and was discovered from the immune response of cancer patients vaccinated with an antigen-specific vaccine during a Phase I trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  The antigen the antibody targets is expressed on more than 90% of pancreatic cancers, making the antibody potentially broadly applicable to most patients suffering from this type of cancer.  MabVax is headquartered in San Diego.  Additional information is available at www.mabvax.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Related to MabVax
The statements set forth above include forward-looking statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, including statements relating to the company's progress in its phase I clinical trial of MVT-5873.  MabVax can make no assurance that all of the product development pipeline will be fully developed by the company.   Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "potential," "hope" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations of the company and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect.  Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties.  Detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by statements in this press release relating to the company may be found in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

MabVax Contacts:

Investor Relations:
Greg Hanson, CFO
858-500-8457

David Hansen, President and CEO
858-500-8455

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SOURCE MabVax Therapeutics