Therapeutic
Exclusive interview with Dr Niranjan Sardesai
With just weeks to go until the World Vaccine Congress in Washington, we are delighted to share our series of exclusive interviews with some fantastic speakers
Lassa vaccine in monkeys: protection not therapy
Researchers in France published a paper in Nature Communications in March detailing the results of an investigation into their Lassa fever vaccine candidate.
Moderna and Merck granted BTD for cancer therapy
Following positive results from a Phase IIb trial in December 2022, Moderna and Merck have announced that their personalised mRNA cancer vaccine, in combination
Scancell announces “encouraging” early Modi-1 data
In February 2023 Scancell announced completion of a monotherapy dose finding arm of the Phase I/II ModiFY clinical trial.
Gritstone bio and NCI collaborate on clinical trial
Gritstone bio and NCI announce a collaboration to evaluate an “autologous T cell therapy expressing a T cell receptor targeting mutated KRAS in combination
Dual-action vaccine turns cancer on itself
In findings from Brigham and Women’s Hospital published in Science Translational Medicine in January 2023, researchers reveal newly discovered potential to exploit cancer cells in the fight against cancer. Using a “dual-action, cancer-killing vaccine” in an advanced...
Cancer vaccine potential in 2023: mRNA moves forward
Towards the end of 2022 we noted the positive results of a Moderna/Merck trial for a personalised cancer vaccine in combination with KEYTRUDA therapy. After the mRNA momentum of the pandemic, there appears to be a sense of optimism in the therapeutic community for the...
Moderna and Merck meet mRNA melanoma efficacy endpoints
In December 2022 Moderna and Merck announced positive results from a Phase IIb trial of mRNA-4157/v940, an investigational personalised cancer vaccine, in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA. In this trial, the combination approach demonstrated a...
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 to get some exclusive insights before their sessions. Dr Stephen Johnston will be representing Calviri Inc. as founding CEO....
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. This is the trial that Dr Christian Brander, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Aelix Therapeutics, hinted at in our...
Exclusive interview with Dr Andrew Vaillant
As we look back on the Congress in Europe and forward to future events, a conversation with Dr Andrew Vaillant of Replicor links our event in Barcelona to the World Vaccine and Immunotherapy Congress in San Diego. As Chief Scientific Officer with 20 years’ experience,...
Glioblastoma vaccine offers longer life to patients
In a study published in JAMA Oncology in November 2022, researchers from America and Europe collaborated to demonstrate “clinically meaningful and statistically significant extension of survival” for patients with glioblastoma. The results are described as...
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...
