Therapeutic
Off-the-shelf lung cancer vaccine makes “major” progress
In September 2023 Ose Immunotherapeutics announced the publication of new data supporting its cancer vaccine, Tedopi, in HLA-A2 positive patients
Elevating the potential of cancer vaccines: Dr Kyle Holen
As we find ourselves in September and ever closer to the Congress in Barcelona next month, our interview series is kicking off with vigour.
CARsgen and Moderna unite to tackle Claudin18.2
A collaboration between Chinese company CARsgen and Texas-based Moderna was announced by the former in August 2023. The agreement was initiated
Patient advocate by choice: Solve M.E.’s Oved Amitay
In this post we are thrilled to share a pre-event conversation with Solve M.E.’s President and CEO Oved Amitay, in which we discuss his team’s work
EBV vaccine candidate makes progress in study
In a study published in Nature Communications in August 2023 presents early findings for a “cutting-edge” vaccine candidate developed at QIMR Berghofer.
Vaccine combinations against bladder cancer: IO Biotech
In July 2023 IO Biotech announced that the University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Centre has dosed the first patient in an investigator-initiated trial of IO102-IO103. IO Biotech uses its T-win technology platform to develop novel, immune-modulating...
Targeting inflamed brain cells to reduce Alzheimer’s
A team from Japan’s Juntendo University suggest that their latest vaccine, “SAGP”, may revolutionise treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Presenting at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2023, the researchers hope to...
Merck and Moderna begin Phase III melanoma trial
In July 2023 Merck and Moderna announced the initiation of a Phase III clinical trial evaluating V940 (mRNA-4157), an investigational individualised neoantigen therapy (INT), in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with resected high-risk melanoma. Recruitment for...
Continued progress for Vaxxinity against Parkinson’s
Less than a month since we reported Vaxxinity’s “promising” results in a trial of UB-312, the company has released further encouraging news; new data demonstrates that UB-312 has established “clear target engagement” by slowing seeding of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) in...
Vaccines are the “future” in cancer, says Dr Pravin Kaumaya
During the Congress in April we were pleased to meet Dr Pravin Kaumaya for a conversation about the state of play in the cancer vaccine field. Dr Kaumaya joined us to chair the Cancer and Immunotherapy track, present a session and join a panel. Here we learn more...
UK government and BioNTech join forces on cancer trials
Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UK government and BioNTech in January 2023, an agreement has been established to provide cancer patients with “improved access” to cancer trials. The partnership will ensure that more patients are able...
Vaxxinity announces positive Parkinson’s trial results
In June 2023 Vaxxinity announced positive results from Part B of the Phase I clinical trial of UB-312, an investigational vaccine for Parkinson’s disease. The results show that the vaccine was well tolerated and induced anti-alpha-synuclein (aSyn) antibody responses...
Mendus’ vididencel treatment increases cancer-killing cells
In June 2023 at the European Haematology Association event Mendus presented new clinical data from the Phase II ADVANCE II trial in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) maintenance. The data show that treatment with vididencel led to increased levels of activated,...
Moderna and Merck announce positive DMFS results from trial
In June 2023 Moderna and Merck, who have been collaborating on a Phase IIb study to evaluate mRNA-4157 (V940), announced distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) results. The trial investigates the combination of KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, with an...
Transgene presents positive cancer vaccine data for HPV
French-based biotechnology company Transgene announced in June 2023 that new data confirm that its novel investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine can induce immune responses against HPV16. The results are presented in a poster at the American Society of Clinical...
T cells and cancer immunosuppression: Dr Jay Berzofsky
Our next interview is with Dr Jay Berzofsky, Chief of the Vaccine Branch at NCI's Centre for Cancer Research. He joined us at the Congress to participate in the Cancer and Immunotherapy Vaccines track, during which he explored triple synergistic combination...
“Vaccines are the great levelling field”, says Dr Nora Disis
At the World Vaccine Congress last month we were lucky to meet Dr Nora Disis of the University of Washington (UW), an expert in oncology. We are delighted that she made time to discuss combination therapies, the role of vaccines in cancer treatment, and the...
PDAC progress with personalised RNA neoantigen vaccines
An article in Nature in May 2023 presents work from a collaboration between Genentech, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC), and BioNTech. Dr Vinod P. Balachandran, surgeon-scientist at MSKCC has been working on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for...
Tilting the cancer battlefield with Dr Andrew Allen
At last month's Congress we were lucky to meet Dr Andrew Allen, CEO and Co-Founder of Gritstone bio, for a conversation about cancer vaccines and immunotherapy targets. He joined us at the event for the Cancer and Immunotherapy Vaccines track, and we were glad to sit...
Hitting HIV where it hurts: interview with Dr Gaurav Gaiha
Continuing our series of exclusive Congress interviews we are delighted to share a conversation with Dr Gaurav Gaiha at the Congress this month. Dr Gaiha participated in the HIV workshop on the pre-Congress day, presenting "highly networked" CD8+ T cell vaccines for...
