Therapeutic
Exclusive interview with Dr Stephen Johnston
As we gear up towards the World Vaccine and Immunotherapy Congress in San Diego later this month we have been meeting a few of our speakers
AELIX Therapeutics study in Nature meets endpoints
In November 2022 the results of the AELIX-002 trial were published in Nature by collaborators from Aelix Therapeutics and Gilead Sciences.
Exclusive interview with Dr Andrew Vaillant
As we look forward to future events, a conversation with Dr Andrew Vaillant links our event in Barcelona to the World Vaccine and Immunotherapy Congress
Glioblastoma vaccine offers longer life to patients
In a study, researchers collaborated to demonstrate “clinically meaningful and statistically significant extension of survival” for patients
Fentanyl vaccine shows therapeutic promise in rats
A study by researchers led by the University of Houston demonstrates potential to eliminate the high caused by the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Breast cancer vaccine: safe at Phase I trial
A study in JAMA Oncology in November 2022 suggests that researchers in the US are making progress with an experimental vaccine against breast cancer. Led by Dr Mary (Nora) L. Disis of the University of Washington Medicine Cancer Vaccine Institute, the team indicate...
Exclusive interview with Dr Christian Brander
Another highlight from this year's World Vaccine Congress in Europe was the opportunity to speak to Dr Christian Brander in person. Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Aelix Therapeutics; he and his team are based in Spain, focusing on a therapeutic HIV...
LUMC and ISA study generates “strong” results
A publication in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer in October 2022 by researchers at the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) investigated the safety and immunogencity of ISA Pharmaceuticals’ Amplivant adjuvant and Synthetic Long Peptide (SLP) therapeutic...
Senescent cell potential against cancer revealed
Researchers in Europe published results in Cancer Discovery in November 2022 that indicate promising responses to vaccination with senescent cells. The researchers suggest that these cells “combine several features that render them highly efficient in activating...
BioNTech founding duo anticipate mRNA against cancer
Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on the Sunday programme in October 2022, Professors Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci indicated that mRNA treatments against various cancers could be available as soon as 2030. The professors co-founded the German company BioNTech in...
Cancer therapy or prevention: where should we focus?
An article in the New York Times in October 2022 reflects that developing a cancer vaccine for high-risk patients seems like an “impossible dream”. However, recent steps suggest that we may be closer to this possibility than previously thought. While these...
Mouse model mRNA success for hereditary tyrosinemia 1
A German study published in September 2022 in Molecular Therapy supports a clinical trial of “periodic low-dose intramuscular administration” of an mRNA-based therapy against Hereditary tyrosinemia 1. This is a recessive genetic disease of amino acid metabolism,...
Still searching for vaccines: mRNA against cancer
Several our recent articles have focused on the role of vaccination in cancer therapies. Initially we considered some of the current options, followed by reports of a positive study from Tufts University. We also explored some of the key players in President Joe...
Exclusive interview with Dr Miguel Sanjuan
With just a few weeks left until the World Vaccine Congress in Europe 2022 we are looking forward to hearing from a range of incredible speakers. One such speaker is Dr Miguel Sanjuan, SVP Research and Development at Provention Bio. He will be showcasing a vaccine...
European biotechs receive EUREKA therapeutic funding
In September 2022 LABIOTECH.EU announced that a partnership between European biotech companies had been awarded a €1.06 million grant from EUREKA Eurostars. CimCure BV, a Dutch Biotech, Covalab, a French biotech, Amsterdam UMC, and the University of Zurich have...
mRNA giants launch therapeutic protein ambitions
Published in Nature in September 2022, Ken Garber explores the hopes of mRNA companies who are setting their sights back on therapeutic proteins. Disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, these companies are “doubling down on the goal of converting human cells into protein...
Holding out hope: a therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine
In Nature in September 2022 an article by Anthony King identified the difficulties associated with creating an immunotherapy for prostate tumours. The 2010 FDA-approved vaccine, sipuleucel-T, “raised hopes for a surge of cancer treatments”, which the article suggests...
Genexine announces DNA vaccine for cervical cancer
Genexine, a Korean biopharmaceutical company, announced in August that its “first-in-class proprietary DNA vaccine” demonstrated efficacy and safety in a Phase II study. The study examined these two qualities of the vaccine in patients with advanced cervical cancer....
Pfizer’s GBS6 receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation
Pfizer announced in September 2022 that its investigational Group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccine candidate, GBS6, or PF-06760805, had received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA. The vaccine is intended for the “prevention of invasive GBS disease...by active...
Oncolytic viruses hold immunotherapy potential
An article in In Vivo in September 2022 explored the development and therapeutic potential of oncolytic viruses. Crediting a “relatively safe mode of action” and possibility of enhancing existing treatments, the article stated that 1/3 or cancer vaccines in...
