CEL-SCI Corporation develops cancer immunotherapy programs centered on Multikine (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection), an investigational neoadjuvant therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Company news commonly covers Multikine regulatory interactions, FDA Orphan Drug designation for neoadjuvant use, confirmatory registration-study preparation, and the company's positioning of the therapy before surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Updates also include financial results, public equity offerings used to fund Multikine development, investor presentations, and regional commercialization or regulatory-affairs agreements, including activity in Saudi Arabia. CEL-SCI's disclosures often connect clinical development with working-capital needs and potential international market access.
CEL-SCI (NYSE: CVM) reports that a JAMA Oncology study published on March 6, 2025, supports Multikine's potential as a neoadjuvant treatment for head and neck cancer patients with low PD-L1 expression. The DEPEND study demonstrates that while checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab works best with high PD-L1 levels, it's less effective with low levels.
Multikine stands out as the only neoadjuvant oncology drug showing overall survival benefit in head and neck cancer patients with low PD-L1 expression, which represents approximately 70% of patients. In CEL-SCI's Phase 3 trial, the 5-year survival rate for the target patient population increased to 73% with Multikine treatment compared to 45% in the control group.
The company has received FDA approval to proceed with a confirmatory Registration Trial, focusing on previously untreated resectable stage 3 and 4 head and neck cancer patients with low PD-L1 tumor expression and no lymph node involvement.
CEL-SCI (NYSE American: CVM) announced the launch of a 212-patient Confirmatory Registration Study for Multikine in head and neck cancer patients. The study aims to confirm results from a previous Phase 3 trial where 5-year survival rates increased to 73% in treated patients versus 45% in control groups.
The study targets previously untreated resectable stage 3 and 4 head and neck cancer patients with no lymph node involvement and low PD-L1 tumor expression. Key highlights include: full enrollment expected by Q2 2026, plans for early approval based on tumor responses, and FDA concurrence with the study design. The final clinical protocol was submitted to FDA in December 2024.
The company reports over 95% chance of success for this Registration Study, as it focuses on the target population that showed the most benefit in the prior Phase 3 study, with Multikine extending median overall survival by nearly 4 years.
CEL-SCI (CVM) reported Q1 2025 financial results and key developments. The FDA concurred with CEL-SCI's plan to use PD-L1 as a biomarker for a Phase 3 confirmatory trial of Multikine in head and neck cancer. Previous Phase 3 data showed patients with low PD-L1 expression had 73% 5-year survival vs 45% in control group (p=0.0015). Multikine demonstrated pre-surgical tumor regression in just 3 weeks.
Financial highlights: R&D expenses were $4.4 million, G&A expenses increased to $2.5 million from $2.1 million YoY. Net loss was $7.1 million vs $6.7 million in prior year. Net loss per share improved to $0.11 from $0.14. Cash spent during Q1 was $5.1 million.
CEL-SCI (CVM) reported fiscal year 2024 results and announced preparations for a 212-patient Confirmatory Registration Study for Multikine in head and neck cancer patients. The study, expected to complete enrollment by Q2 2026, focuses on PD-L1 low newly diagnosed patients.
Key financial results include a reduced net loss of $26.9 million compared to $32.2 million in 2023. Research and development expenses decreased 19% to $18.2 million, while general and administrative expenses fell 9% to $8.2 million.
The FDA has approved the confirmatory study based on previous Phase 3 results, where Multikine demonstrated 73% survival rate versus 45% in control patients at 5 years. The company plans to seek early approval based on pre-surgical response rates and aims to establish Multikine as the first new treatment in over 50 years for newly diagnosed locally advanced head and neck cancer.
CEL-SCI (NYSE American: CVM) has closed its previously announced best-efforts offering, raising approximately $5 million in gross proceeds through the sale of 16,130,000 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants) at $0.31 per share. The proceeds will fund the development of Multikine, a first-line cancer therapy that has received FDA Orphan Drug designation for head and neck cancer treatment, along with general corporate purposes and working capital. ThinkEquity served as the sole placement agent. The offering was conducted under the company's effective shelf registration statement. The company is preparing for a confirmatory Registration Study of 212 patients focusing on newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients with specific criteria.
CEL-SCI (NYSE American: CVM) announced a best-efforts public offering of 16,130,000 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants) at $0.31 per share, expecting to raise approximately $5 million in gross proceeds. The offering is set to close on December 31, 2024, with ThinkEquity acting as sole placement agent.
The company plans to use the net proceeds to fund the continued development of Multikine, their first-line cancer therapy which has received FDA Orphan Drug designation for neoadjuvant therapy in head and neck cancer patients. The FDA has approved CEL-SCI's plans for a confirmatory Registration Study of 212 patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced primary treatment naïve resectable head and neck cancer.
CEL-SCI (NYSE American: CVM), a clinical stage cancer immunotherapy company, has announced its intention to conduct a best efforts public offering of common stock and/or pre-funded warrants. The company plans to use the net proceeds to fund the continued development of Multikine, general corporate purposes, and working capital. ThinkEquity is serving as the sole placement agent for the offering. The securities will be offered through a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC. The completion, size, and terms of the offering are subject to market conditions and are not guaranteed.
CEL-SCI (NYSE American: CVM) has received FDA approval for a 212-patient confirmatory registration study of Multikine in head and neck cancer treatment. The study focuses on patients who showed a 73% survival rate with Multikine versus 45% in control groups during the prior Phase 3 study.
The study will target newly diagnosed locally advanced primary (stage III and IVa) head and neck cancer patients with no lymph node involvement and low PD-L1 tumor expression. Multikine demonstrated significant tumor regression in just three weeks of pre-surgical therapy, with five complete regressions observed in the Phase 3 study.
The selection criteria for the confirmatory study is supported by strong statistical significance (p=0.0015) in a large subgroup of 114 patients, and aligns with Multikine's biological mechanism of action.
CEL-SCI (NYSE: CVM) announced FDA agreement on using PD-L1 biomarker for patient selection in its upcoming Multikine Registration Study for head and neck cancer, starting Q1 2025. The study will focus on patients with low PD-L1 tumor expression, following promising results from a previous Phase 3 study where patients showed 73% vs. 45% five-year survival rate compared to control group. The new study will enroll approximately 212 patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced primary head and neck cancer without lymph node involvement. Multikine shows better effectiveness in patients with low PD-L1 expression, which represents about 70% of head and neck cancer cases.
CEL-SCI (NYSE American: CVM) announced potential positive implications for its immunotherapy Multikine® following a recent FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) meeting. The ODAC voted against the risk-benefit profile of PD-L1 inhibitors in various cancers for patients with low PD-L1 expression. This decision highlights a major treatment gap for low and negative PD-L1 cancer patients.
CEL-SCI's Multikine has shown survival benefit and favorable safety profile in a Phase 3 study of treatment-naïve resectable locally advanced head and neck cancer patients with low PD-L1 expression. The company believes Multikine is the only neoadjuvant immunotherapy demonstrating overall survival benefit in this population. CEL-SCI plans to use low PD-L1 expression as a selection criterion in its upcoming FDA confirmatory Registration Study.