Diakonos Oncology Corporation announced in July 2024 that the US FDA has granted Fast Track designation for its dendritic cell vaccine (DCV) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This is the second Fast Track designation Diakonos has received for the DCVs; the first was for the lead vaccine for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The company also announced the addition of Dr Daniel D. Von Hoff, Distinguished Professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix and City of Hope to the Scientific Advisory Board.
DCV
Diakonos states that Dr Will Decker, Chief Science Officer, identified that dendritic cells can detect and initiate Th1 immunity against viral threats after they “confirm matching antigens on MHC Class 1 and 2”. Dr Decker developed a dendritic cell vaccine that loads a patient’s cancer antigens onto MHC Class 1 and 2, which triggers a “powerful and natural” immune response against their cancer. While first attempts loaded tumour antigens on MHC Class 1 (mRNA) and MHC Class 2 (lysate), they “failed” to initiate the required Th1 to be effective against cancer. However, by “double-loading” the dendritic cells, the team can induce “powerful” Th1 immunity and corresponding killer T cell activation.
Mike Wicks, CEO of Diakonos, is glad to have “another acknowledgment” of the “incredible potential of this innovative immunotherapy” against deadly cancers. He is “thrilled” that Dr Von Hoff is joining the team as an advisor as they pursue clinical development. Dr Von Hoff commented that the “unique” dendritic cell vaccine has “shown encouraging results in treating glioblastoma”.
“Pancreatic cancer patients also need additional treatment options. I look forward to working with Diakonos to help develop effective treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer with the same targeted technology.”
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