Q2 2023 PDS Biotechnology Corp Earnings Call

Participants

Frank K. Bedu-Addo; President, CEO & Director; PDS Biotechnology Corporation

Lauren V. Wood; Chief Medical Officer; PDS Biotechnology Corporation

Matthew C. Hill; CFO, Principal Financial & Accounting Officer; PDS Biotechnology Corporation

Joseph Pantginis; Director of Research & MD of Equity Research; H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC, Research Division

Kalpit R. Patel; Senior Biotech Analyst; B. Riley Securities, Inc., Research Division

Leland James Gershell; MD & Senior Analyst; Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Research Division

Robert Michael LeBoyer; VP of Research & Analyst of Life Sciences; NOBLE Capital Markets, Inc., Research Division

Unidentified Analyst

Gabrielle DeGravina

Presentation

Operator

Hello, and welcome to the PDS Biotechnologies Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Call and Webcast.
(Operator Instructions)
A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.
It's now my pleasure to turn the call over to your host, Gabby DeGravina, Investor Relations. Please go ahead, Gabby.

Gabrielle DeGravina

Good morning, and welcome to PDS Biotechnologies Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call and Audio Webcast.
On the call from the company are Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, Chief Executive Officer; Matt Hill, Chief Financial Officer; and Dr. Lauren V. Wood, Chief Medical Officer.
Earlier this morning, PDS Biotech issued a press release announcing financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. We encourage everyone to read the press release as well as PDS Biotech's report on Form 10-Q, which will be filed with the SEC shortly.
The company's press release is available on the PDS website at pdsbiotech.com. In addition, this conference call is being webcast and will be archived on the company website for future reference.
Before we begin, we need to remind everyone that on today's call, the company will be making forward-looking statements regarding regulatory and clinical candidate development plans as well as research activities. Certain information in this presentation may include forward-looking statements, including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as amended in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 as amended, concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation and other matters.
These statements may discuss goals intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition or otherwise, based on the current beliefs of the company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from those forecasted. A description of these risks can be found in PDS Biotech's most recent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this conference call. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, PDSB undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included today to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
I will now hand the call over to Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo. Frank?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

Thank you, Gabby, and thanks to all for joining our Second Quarter 2023 call this morning. We are pleased with the progress we have made so far this year. Our primary goal is to create groundbreaking therapies that can significantly revolutionize cancer treatment. Our current primary focus is on advancing and commercializing our lead clinical candidate, PDS0101 designed for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic HPV-16 positive head and neck cancer.
PDS0101 is an innovative, investigational HPV-16 targeted immunotherapy that stimulates a potent and precise T cell attack on HPV-16-positive cancers. In the upcoming controlled and randomized VERSATILE-003 trial, we will examine PDS0101 in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA or pembrolizumab compared to KEYTRUDA monotherapy, which is the current standard of care for first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
I am pleased to mention that we filed the final VERSATILE-003 Phase III protocol with supporting chemistry, manufacturing and controls or CMC information to our existing IND last week on schedule as planned and previously announced. I congratulate the PDS Biotech team on achieving another key milestone on our path to commercialization of PDS0101.
This filing moves us a step closer to another significant upcoming milestone. The initiation of the Phase III trial in the fourth quarter of this year. As you can imagine, we are all eagerly looking forward to the commencement of VERSATILE-003. This will hopefully move us towards the filing of a biologics license application or BLA and the increased potential to get PDS0101 in successfully commercialized and available to head and neck cancer patients who are in desperate need of safer and more effective therapies.
Advanced head and neck cancer, as many of you may already know, is one of the most devastating and debilitating cancers with one of the highest suicide rates and unfortunately, low response rates to current treatments. This quarter, we made significant progress on our Phase II VERSATILE-002 trial. We presented positive interim data and the data was selected and featured at an expert head and neck cancer panel discussion session after this year's ASCO annual meeting.
The data demonstrated a 12-month survival rate of 87% with only 8% of patients experiencing Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events and no reports of more severe Grade 4 or Grade 5 toxicities. Dr. Wood will provide more details on the ASCO data momentarily. Additionally, the naive arm of VERSATILE-002 reached its efficacy threshold based on best objective response as per investigator assessment. The threshold for efficacy was achieved when 14 of the 54 immune checkpoint inhibitor naive patients achieved a confirmed objective response indicating tumor shrinkage of 30% or more in these patients.
This achievement suggests that there is a statistically significant additive effect of PDS0101 over immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy, and this gives us more confidence to move into the Phase III registrational trial. Just last month, we announced that biomarker data demonstrating the induction of multifunctional HPV-16-specific T cell responses in patients receiving the PDS0101 and KEYTRUDA combination treatment has been accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2023 or ESMO this October.
The immunological clinical data will showcase the potential of this immunotherapy combination to generate clinically relevant multifunctional HPV-16 targeted killer in health of T cells in advanced head and neck cancer patients. Moreover, the treatment has demonstrated minimal toxicity further underlining its potential as an effective approach to treat this challenging cancer. Beyond the VERSATILE-002 achievement, we've continued to successfully progress our 3 other PDS0101 clinical programs as well as the development of our novel antibody conjugated IL-12 cytokine therapy, PDS0301 in multiple National Cancer Institute or NCI led Phase II clinical studies.
We recently announced that an oral presentation by the lead investigator on the prostate cancer program at the National Cancer Institute will take place at the cytokines 2023 annual meeting. The presentation will detail results for the ongoing clinical study of our antibody conjugated IL-12 in combination with the FDA approved standard of care chemotherapy docetaxel for metastatic prostate cancer.
This Phase II trial, which is the first clinical study of on immunocytokine with docetaxel in prostate cancer is being led by the National Cancer Institute and is investigating the safety, immune responses and clinical activity of the combination in metastatic castration-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.
As we look to the remainder of the year and the first half of next year, we expect a number of key data readouts and milestones. For VERSATILE-002 we anticipate providing additional data updates on both the immune checkpoint inhibitor naive and immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory cohorts late this quarter. As recruitment of the naive arm has been completed, we project that the final data will be reported late in the second quarter of 2024. With VERSATILE-003, as already mentioned, we anticipate initiation of the trial later this year.
High on our list is also the National Cancer Institute led triple combination study of PDS0101, our antibody targeted IL-12 and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. We expect data from the immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory arm VERSATILE-002 as well as updated triple combination survival data among head and neck cancer patients to inform the statistical design of the intended triple combination registrational study.
We also anticipate providing updates to the highly encouraging survival data with the triple combination that we reported late last year. Dr. [Ann Klopp] of MD Anderson Cancer Center provided exciting data on the [immunoSERVE] trial in high-risk cervical cancer patients with large tumors of 5 centimeters or more, at the SITC Conference in November of 2022.
This is an investigator-initiated trial, and we expect to have a steady update before the end of the year. The Phase II trial of PDS0101 after neoadjuvant treatment in HPV-16 related oral cancer is also in progress at Mayo Clinic. This is an investigator-initiated trial, and we have little control over the timing of data releases. However, we are hopeful that presentation of preliminary data from the trial at a scientific meeting will occur in the near future. Although our primary focus is on VERSATILE-003, we are also working to file our IND for PDS0103 our [Merck-1] targeted immunotherapy before the end of this year.
At this time, I will hand over to Lauren to walk us through the recent data. Lauren?

Lauren V. Wood

Thank you, Frank. Let's now turn to the high-level interim data presented in a poster at the ASCO 2023 Annual Meeting by Dr. Katharine Price of Mayo Clinic and included as a featured poster reviewed by an expert panel in the head and neck cancer discussion session.
The efficacy highlights include the following: a 12-month overall survival rate of 87% on the combination therapy. Published results document 12-month overall survival rate of 36% to 50% in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, receiving approved immune checkpoint inhibitors used as monotherapy. The median progression-free survival was 10.4 months. Published median progression-free survival results report 2 to 3 months for approved immune checkpoint inhibitors when used as monotherapy in patients with similar PDL1 level expression in their tumors.
The disease control rate, which is defined as disease stabilization or tumor shrinkage was seen in 71% of patients. In addition to the ASCO data, in July, we announced that we had achieved 14 confirmed responses, suggesting that PDS0101 has an additive effect over published results seen with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy. In addition to the previously mentioned 12-month overall survival rate of 87%, this provided us with further confidence moving forward with the Phase III randomized trial.
Importantly, in the VERSATILE-003 Phase III trial, the primary efficacy endpoint will be overall survival rather than objective response.
The endpoint that the FDA has prioritized for approval. Consequently, we have designed our Phase III trial to show improved overall survival of PDS0101 plus KEYTRUDA over KEYTRUDA alone to maximize our opportunity to achieve BLA approval. With respect to safety, we are finding the combination to be well tolerated with only 4 of the 48 patients or 8.3% having Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events, also known as TRAEs at the time of ASCO. Furthermore, there were no grade 4 or higher treatment-related adverse events observed. The published treatment-related adverse event rate for KEYTRUDA monotherapy is approximately 17%. We continue to ramp up for the initiation of the VERSATILE-003 trial. During the quarter, we completed the CMC required activities related to PDS0101 to initiate a global multicenter Phase III registrational trial.
We have also received feedback from some European regulatory agencies on the VERSATILE-003 study design. As Frank mentioned previously, this morning, we announced submission of the clinical protocol and the CMC package to the FDA in preparation to initiate the study by the end of the year. The planned design of the controlled Phase III trial will randomize subjects to PDS0101 in combination with KEYTRUDA as the active arm and KEYTRUDA monotherapy as the comparator control arm. We intend to conduct the trial at 90 to 100 sites globally. The study will be powered for overall survival with an interim analysis for potential accelerated approval pending the data readout. Initiating this trial is a significant milestone for PDS Biotech, and we look forward to starting VERSATILE-003 in the fourth quarter of this year.
In addition to the VERSATILE programs, we have been pleased with the ongoing results from the Phase II trial for the triple combination of PDS0101, PDS0301, which is our IL-12 tumor targeting cytokine and an investigational immune checkpoint inhibitor. This combination has been evaluated in all types of HPV-positive cancers, including anal, cervical, head and neck, [penile], vaginal and [vulvar] cancers in both immune checkpoint inhibitor naive as well as immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory patients. As we've mentioned previously, we plan to continue to develop and commercialize this combination using an approved checkpoint inhibitor in immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory patients. HPV-16 positive head and neck cancer is the largest and most rapidly growing of the HPV-related cancer market.
The proprietary combination of Versamune and PES-0301 overcomes tumor immunosuppression by a mechanism that's different from immune checkpoint inhibitors alone. We believe this technology represents a potentially transformative treatment approach for advanced cancer patients across multiple solid tumors. I would also like to highlight the advancement of our PDS0301 antibody conjugated IL-12 programs being led by the NCI.
We continue to expand our relationship with the NCI and are now exploring the potential of PDS0301, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other agents in multiple clinical trials of advanced cancers. We are pleased to be able to evaluate PDS0301 with some of the leading experts in the field of immuno-oncology.
During the Cytokine 2023 Annual Meeting in October, Dr. [Ravi Madan] of the NCI will provide interim safety and immune data based on 18 patients involved in First-in-Human Phase II trial. This study is designed to evaluate PDS0301 in conjunction with docetaxel chemotherapy.
We are excited about this trial as it represents a significant opportunity to understand the potential benefits of combining PDS0301 with chemotherapy and the opportunity to offer improved treatment possibilities for patients with metastatic castration sensitive and castration-resistant forms of prostate cancer. The findings also have the potential to shed light on PDS0301 chemotherapy combinations in treating other solid tumors.
With that, I'd like to now turn the call over to Matt to discuss the financial summary. Matt?

Matthew C. Hill

Thank you, Lauren. Now turning to our financial results for the 3 months ended June 30, 2023. Net loss for the 3 months ended June 30, 2023, was approximately $11.5 million or $0.37 per basic and diluted share compared to a net loss of $5.8 million or $0.20 per basic and diluted share for the same period in 2022.
The higher net loss this quarter was due to costs incurred in connection with the research, development and VERSATILE clinical programs. Research and development costs, which include clinical and manufacturing expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, increased to approximately $8 million compared to the $3.8 million for the same period in 2022. The increase of $4.2 million is primarily attributable to an increase of $1.4 million in clinical trials, $0.5 million in personnel costs which include $0.2 million in noncash stock-based compensation and $2.3 million in manufacturing expenses.
General and administrative expenses for the Second Quarter of 2023 increased to approximately $4.7 million compared to $3.3 million for the same period in 2022. The increase of $1.4 million is primarily attributable to an increase of $0.5 million in personnel costs, including $0.4 million in noncash stock-based compensation and $0.9 million in professional fees.
Total operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, were approximately $12.7 million compared to total operating expenses of approximately $7.1 million for the same period in 2022. Our cash and cash equivalent as of June 30, 2023, totaled approximately $60.6 million and based on the company's cash resources and projections, we believe this balance is sufficient to fund operations and our research and development and clinical programs for the 12 months following the filing of our June 2023 quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which will be filed today.
We continue to be engaged in business development opportunities, and we'll continue to manage our cash prudently. This completes my discussion and at this time, I would like to hand the call back to the operator for the Q&A session. Operator?

Question and Answer Session

Operator

Now be conducting a question-and-answer session.
(Operator Instructions)
Our first question today is coming from Joe Pantginis from H.C. Wainright.

Joseph Pantginis

So first, just wanted to get a sense of the operational readiness for the Phase III. I mean fourth quarter is not too far away. So obviously, everything is probably offset. I wanted to get a sense of what the target enrollment is. Randomization is it 1:1, assuming the supply is all ready to go, the diagnostic and then, of course, Lauren already discussed the benchmarks. Let's start with that.

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

Joe thanks a lot for your question. With respect to the operational readiness, as you know, there are a number of things that have to happen beyond just the submission of the IND amendments and update to the IND. A number of those are actively ongoing currently. We have to activate the clinical sites. We're currently looking at, as Lauren said, at 90 to 100 clinical sites. So in the process of getting those sites up and running. We have had a very good response higher than expected.
We actually have about 100 clinical sites who have already indicated interest in participating in the Phase III data and we believe that is directly related to the data that was presented at ASCO, the overall survival as well as the safety. As you know, head and neck cancer oncologists are really looking for something that can help their patients live longer with higher quality of life, that's well tolerated. So we believe that's really largely responsible for the larger-than-expected interest that we've seen in these clinical sites.
So really getting all those sites up and ready waiting for the green light from the FDA, and then we actually have to start getting the institutional review boards at the various sites to also approve these trials. The good thing is that in terms of manufacturing, the manufacturing is done, the product has been manufactured. And so all that information is what was utilized to update the CMC section, right? So we're looking at the target enrollment of anywhere between, I would say, between 200 to 300 patients pending. We're waiting for the final feedback from the FDA, right?
As you know, we submitted those documents last week to the IND. And so once we have the final either green light or any feedback from the FDA, we can then make the actual final protocol available to everyone. But we've submitted what we anticipate could be the final protocol, but we always want to wait to get the feedback before we say this is the absolute final protocol that's moving into the Phase III trial.
But so far, we are very pleased, and we're excited to get this going. And we think this is a really solid protocol that was developed based upon inputs that we received from the FDA. So we actually took all the FDA's feedback into consideration in putting this protocol together, (inaudible) controlled trial, right, with KEYTRUDA in after control arm.

Joseph Pantginis

That's very helpful, Frank. And then I guess, just well, maybe quickly on the 0301 study with docetaxel, very intriguing. I was just curious what are the levels of translational data that you're looking to gather for that study? And then also, I guess, talking to the immune approach in combination with docetaxel, I guess maybe you or Lauren can discuss sort of the approach that you're taking here because even going back years ago with data out of the (inaudible) labs that talked about benefit or lack thereof or what's best to do with regard to concomitant dosing with docetaxel or sequencing or what have you. So looking to get more info on translational info.
And then lastly, just curious since it's not discussed today, but it's always in the forefront of people's minds in the world is what's percolating in the background with regard to influenza?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

Really good questions, Joe. So I'll address the influenza, and then I'll hand over to Lauren to address the translational studies with PDS0301. So with the flu program, this program continues to progress under the NIAID CIVICs program. (inaudible) typical with flu vaccines after successful [month] studies, the vaccines are then usually tested in [ferrous and ferrous] a considered the gold standard and the most relevant to human results. So these studies in ferrous are currently ongoing with PDS0202 at the CIVICs selected centers, and so based upon what's going on now in those studies, we will -- we do intend to provide an update when these results are available and also once the clinical studies are confirmed by NIAID.
So those studies are continuing to progress. Lauren, I'll hand over to you to discuss the translational studies for PDS0301 and with docetaxel.

Lauren V. Wood

Great. And thanks for your question, Joe. So your question is an excellent one. And one of the things that's coming out of Dr. Madan's study is there's actually concurrent dosing of PDS0301 and docetaxel. Specifically, there's also examination of different dose levels of PDS0301 in the docetaxel combination and they're looking at both metastatic castration sensitive as well as castration-resistant prostate cancer.
The translational relevance here is that we really want to, one, ensure the safety of the co-delivery of the combination together. More importantly, since NHS IL-12, is a tumor-targeting immunocytokine we really want to see if there are differences in terms of the magnitude of immune responses and clinical outcomes that we see with different doses when it's delivered in combination with docetaxel.
Our hope is that since we know docetaxel induces tumor necrosis, that co-delivery of PDS0301 could actually augment this tumor necrosis. From a translational standpoint, our interest is not only in the fact that PDS0301 is a tumor targeting T cell immunocytokine that we see augmentation of these tumor-specific T cell responses, but also the possibility of augmenting natural killer cell responses to this combination therapy.
So we're really looking forward to Dr. Madan's presentation at Cytokine 2023. And this would lead to building on further studies once we know what we see as far as the clinical outcomes and the immune responses.

Operator

Your next question today is coming from Louise Chen from Cantor Fitzgerald.

Unidentified Analyst

Congratulations on the quarter. This is Lucas [Staff] on for Louise Chen from Cantor. So I have two quick questions. I guess there are more big-picture strategy/vision question. So first question is with regards to your Versamune platform. So you've had a lot of success to date, leveraging it with PDS0101, 0102, 03, 04, et cetera. So I guess like what is your vision for the future of developing the platform? Or how do you hope to expand on the platform success to date?
And then the second question is, if you could talk a little bit about your partnership with the NIH. And if there's any like important developments there or how you see that progressing moving forward?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

Thanks a lot. Two very good questions. So the Versamune platform is [first] to be developed with PDS0101. PDS0101, we really see us a proof-of-concept study for the platform. Just based upon what's happened with the T cell activating technologies over the last couple of decades, we believe it's very important for us to really demonstrate this strong proof-of-concept for the industry to really understand the potential of PDS0101.
So as you know, we've also performed preclinical studies with PDS0102, which is utilizing the same platform in TARP specific tumor. So this would address prostate cancer and breast cancer. We have also performed those preclinical studies with PDS0103 that addresses Merck-1 positive cancer. So these are cancers like ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. And in preclinical studies, we have demonstrated that we can generate the same levels of multifunctional tumor-targeted killer T cells with each of these products. right?
So really, with the PDS0101 now, our goal is really to get this rapidly into commercialization. PDS0101, as you know, addresses all types of HPV-associated cancers. However, we have an initial focus on head and neck cancer, which is the largest and most rapidly growing of these HPV indications, right? So as I mentioned, I think on the last call, we had a meeting with the FDA regarding the triple combination, which we intend to also move initially into head and neck cancer. We also have the studies ongoing currently at Mayo Clinic, which is looking at earlier stage, as the neoadjuvant treatment in patients who have oral cancer ahead of their surgical removal of the lesions.
So we're really looking to position -- strongly position PDS0101, which is the first [Versamune-based] product as a therapy for head and neck cancers, right from early stage treatment all the way through recurrent metastatic and checkpoint refractory patients. We want PDS0101 to be synonymous with head and neck cancer treatment. And we believe based on our partnership with the National Cancer Institute, what we do with Mayo Clinic that we will be able to successfully achieve this.
We then also have started studies in cervical cancer. The National Cancer Institute actually looked at all types of HPV-associated cancers. So we have very strong evidence that PDS0101 has potential far beyond just head and neck cancer but broadly applied in HPV-associated cancers. So as I mentioned, this is a proof-of-concept study, and we do intend to move PDS02 -- 0102 and 0103 also rapidly into the clinic. PDS0103 as we mentioned on this call, we intend to file the IND for PDS0103 which addresses Merck-1 related cancers of Merck-1 positive cancers to allow that to also go into the clinic after. So that would be the second product coming after PDS0101, right?
And also, we also have a business development strategy, right? So we are looking to selectively and advantageously partner some of these programs to move them rapidly into the commercialization path, right? And so moving on to the second question you asked, which is our partnerships with the NIH. So I think one of the key things that doesn't really become very obvious -- very often is the importance of the partnership with the National Cancer Institute, partnerships with folks like MD Anderson and Mayo Clinic. These partnerships have come about after several years of many of these partners actually independent in preclinical studies, studying our technology completely independent of PDS and convincing themselves that these technologies, our Versamune technology as well as PDS -- our tumor antibody conjugated IL-12 has the potential to significantly advance the science of clinical oncology.
These experts are looking for technologies that can advance clinical science. They're going to do their studies completely independent of what PDS is thinking. So from PDS -- what PDS wants to see. So from PDS's perspective, we have to have enough confidence in our science and our technology that when we hand our technology over to experts, such as the NIH, MD Anderson, and Mayo Clinic that we are comfortable with them reporting whatever they find regarding our technology and our science. And so far, as we can see from the results, they have provided strong validation -- independent validation of the science and technology and the interest of these experts and key opinion leaders in actually transitioning this into, from preclinical studies into human clinical trials and being interested in putting some of their own capital into progressing these trials is a very strong validation of the science, and the opinion of the key experts that this has the potential to significantly advance the science of clinical oncology.
To date, we have 8 Phase II clinical trials ongoing and 5 of these trials are partnered with the National Cancer Institute. And so what you can see here is that based upon these partnerships and this buy-in to the science that PDS Biotechnology is developing, we are able to progress a lot more clinical trials than we typically would, right at a significantly lower cost to PDS biotechnology. So we are able to really advance these programs and what this allows us to do now is to understand how PDS0301, for example, a tumor-targeted IL-12 behaves in certain [can] solid tumors, how it synergizes with standard of care technologies, for example, (inaudible) with chemotherapy docetaxel.
We're also looking at combinations with radiation. We're looking at monotherapies, and we're doing the same with a triple combination. So this allows us then to look at the Phase II data determine in which combinations and which indications we have the best chance to rapidly commercialize these products. So we see this relationship with the National Cancer Institute has a really strong validation they are key experts in these fields and they also provide PDS with a lot of expert oversight and guidance in terms of how we design these trials and all things, what specific indications we look for. They have seen almost every technology that's been successful in oncology has actually gone through the National Cancer Institute. So it's a very valuable relationship to PDS Biotechnology.

Unidentified Analyst

Okay. No follow-up questions from me.

Operator

Your next question is coming from Kalpit Patel from B. Riley Securities.

Kalpit R. Patel

First for the additional updates that you expect to report later this quarter, I believe you said -- how many more months of follow-up should we expect for the 002 trial?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

So with PDS -- you're talking about the VERSATILE-002 trial, Kalpit. Is that correct?

Kalpit R. Patel

Correct. Yes.

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

Yes. So I am not privy to the clinical data, but I am hopeful that when we provide the update later this quarter, we'll hopefully have updates on the 12-month overall survival and hopefully also have an update on the 24-month overall survival. Those would be the two key updates that I would expect, especially since those were key for design of the Phase III clinical trial. As you know, the FDA is most interested in the overall survival. And that's how the trial has been powered. So those would be two key updates that I would be hopeful that we get before the end of the quarter.

Kalpit R. Patel

Okay. And then based on your expectations of enrolling 90 to 100 sites in the Phase III, assuming -- let's assume you start in the fourth quarter, when would you expect the interim analysis to hit and the primary end point as well?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

So the primary endpoint for the trial is overall survival, the planned interim analysis will be conducted after enrollment is complete and after a prespecified number of events have occurred. So since this endpoint is overall survival, the events will be death events and a certain number of death events have to occur to meet either the interim endpoint or the final endpoint. And so really, the enrollment projections were informed by our CRO feasibility analysis, and they estimate about an 18- to 24-month accrual period, pending the actual enrollment rate and the actual occurrence of these events, right. So it's not very easy to predict exactly when that time will occur, but the initial interim endpoint will be right after the completed enrollment for the trial. So that could be anywhere between an 18- to 24-month accrual period.

Kalpit R. Patel

Okay. Perfect. Thank you very much.

Operator

Our next question is coming from Lean Gershell from Oppenheimer.

Leland James Gershell

I'm wondering, Frank and Lauren, what your view may be on accelerated approval potential for PDS0101 in the VERSATILE-003 study. Following the FDA draft guidance that came out in March, as you may be aware, with recommendations on development of drugs for accelerated approval in oncology randomized trials, such as VERSATILE-003 could use the ORR as submissible endpoint for affiliated approval. So given the robust responses you've seen so far in that population, wondering if there may be an opportunity for you to submit earlier ahead of the mature OS data and then use the OS data from 003 as confirmation of efficacy?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

I'll take a step at it, and then I'll also hand over to Lauren to add to my response. So I think as you know, we do have fast track designation, and we would like to take advantage of that to have more frequent discussions with the FDA as the data becomes available. So we do understand that currently, the VERSATILE-002 data is extremely encouraging. And we are hopeful that as we get to the interim data points, if the data looks anything close to what we've seen currently with VERSATILE-002, that we'll have the opportunity to discuss an accelerated approval with the FDA.
So even though overall survival is the primary endpoint, we also do have secondary endpoints, such as objective response rates and PFS that we will be monitoring. But in head and neck cancer, specifically, the FDA made it very clear to us. that since objective response rates have not really correlated with overall survival. They are primarily interested in overall survival in head and neck cancer, right. And so that's why we powered this trial specifically for overall survival, but we'll definitely take advantage of the fast track to have discussions with the FDA earlier on as the data begins and continues to emerge.
Lauren, anything you'd like to add to that?

Lauren V. Wood

Yes. The only thing I'd like to echo, Leland, is that ultimately, with accelerated approval, like you mentioned, a confirmatory trial is required. So while VERSATILE-003 is powered for the primary endpoint of overall survival, once we have our final data cut and follow-up from VERSATILE-002 next year and also have those final overall survival rates for 12 months and 24 months as well as the objective response rates. That will be another opportunity for discussions with the agency. In terms of additional accelerated approval discussion. That's all.

Leland James Gershell

Okay. That's helpful. And then with respect to Merck-1. When might we see initial data from the Merck-1 study?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

Well, we have not actually started that study yet. So at this point, I will not provide any timeline as to when we're going to see data. We are hopeful that we will file the IND by the end of this calendar year, which will allow us to get the clinical trial going probably by early next year. And so it's -- once we have more clarity on exactly what the clinical design is going to look like, we'll be able to provide more information on when we should expect to see data. So hopefully, on the next call, we will have some more clarity around that question.

Operator

Your next question is coming from Robert LeBoyer from Noble Capital Markets.

Robert Michael LeBoyer

Just one more follow-up question on the design of VERSATILE-003. And in the interim analysis, OS and PFS had been mentioned previously, is PFS still going to be an interim analysis factor or endpoint that you can discuss with the FDA?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

We will certainly be collecting the PFS information but both the interim and the final endpoints have been powered for overall survival.

Robert Michael LeBoyer

Okay. And one question on the triple combination. You had mentioned that the design of the Phase III was in progress. Any timing on the submission of an IND for that, for the start of the Phase III?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

So with that trial specifically, we are waiting to get -- so this is going to be, as I mentioned, in patients' checkpoint refractory head and neck cancer. And checkpoint refractory head and neck cancer is the indication that we're evaluating in the second arm of the VERSATILE-002 study. And so, as we mentioned on the last call, we expect that this quarter, we will be obtaining initial information from the first 21 patients who are being treated, the first 21 checkpoint refractory head and a cancer patients in the VERSATILE-002 trial.
Primarily, what we're looking for from that trial is overall survival and how it impacts and how additional PDS0101 to KEYTRUDA may allow those patients to respond and continue to survive. That information is going to be critical together with the information we have from the triple combination trial to design the final, what we intend and hope to be a registrational study.
One of the things we will do with that design is something very similar to what we did with KEYTRUDA, really maximize our interactions with the FDA, get the FDA's feedback. We would like to understand what key elements that FDA would like to see in that trial to allow it to be a registrational trial, right. So that's an interaction that we expect to be having with the FDA probably starting later this year. And so based upon those interactions and getting a really good understanding of what they would like to see in that trial to make it registrational we will then be able to then project exactly when we start. But we would like to start -- initiate those -- get the initial protocol done and start those interactions with the FDA before the end of this year.

Operator

Next question is coming from James Molloy from Alliance Global Partners.

Unidentified Analyst

This is Laura Suriel calling for James Molloy. So for the Phase III VERSATILE-003 trial, was it being set to be initiated by the end of the year? If it's not too early to tell, when do you think you might complete enrollment here or announce a first look or interim data?

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

As we discussed earlier, the -- that timing is we expected based upon what the potential enrollment projections are. So we look at what our CRO projected enrollment could potentially be for the [various] sites. And also based upon the actual accrual and occurrence of the events that we expect to see for the trial. We anticipate that the enrollment could take anywhere between 18 to 24 months to be completed. And at that point, we will then have our first interim analysis.

Unidentified Analyst

Got it. And then also for the NCI-led Phase II trial of 0301. When might we get additional data for this trial following the Cytokine meeting that's going to be held this October and some of the other timelines here as well.

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

I'll hand that question over to Lauren since she has more information on that trial.

Lauren V. Wood

So as it relates to the NCI triple combination study that examines PDS0101, 0301 and...

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

I think Lauren -- I think that was the docetaxel trial, she was asking about.

Lauren V. Wood

Okay. I thought there was interest in updated data. So I just wanted to highlight the fact that there will be updated survival data before the end of this quarter. And then following the Cytokines meeting presentation, I think there will be additional discussions in terms of further expansion of the study at the dose levels of PDS0301 and docetaxel that yielded optimum tolerability as well as immune responses that are being examined and that will be presented in at Cytokines 2023.

Operator

We have reached the end of our question-and-answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over for any further or closing comments.

Frank K. Bedu-Addo

Well, thank you very much, Lauren and Matt. And to our attendees, we very much appreciate you joining our second quarter earnings conference call today. This quarter's progress has been truly exciting, and we remain enthusiastic about what lies ahead for the rest of the year.
Before concluding the call, I would like to mention that we are planning a key opinion leader event in the near future. The webcast will include experts who will provide their perspectives on PDS0101, any data updates and its potential in the treatment of advanced head and neck cancer. Please look out for more details as we get closer to the event. As you have seen from our press releases and as I have reiterated here on this call, we are excited to share the many data readouts that are on the horizon and that holds significant promise and potential value to our investors.
We have made great strides on the path to achieve our goal of advancing a paradigm shift in the way head and neck cancer is treated with a potentially well-tolerated, safe and effective treatment that extends the survival of advanced head and neck cancer patients. We strongly believe that in the very near future, these patients who have a critical unmet medical need will live longer and have a higher quality of life as a result of the work we're doing here today.
Thank you very much for your continued support, and we look forward to updating you on our progress. Thanks a lot.

Operator

Thank you. That does conclude today's teleconference webcast. You may disconnect your line at this time, and have a wonderful day. We thank you for your participation today.