Therapeutic
Study: cancer vaccine could tackle lesions if used early
A study in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer finds that vaccination in a clinically relevant genetic cancer mouse model generated a population
Anixa plans Phase II study for breast cancer vaccine
Anixa Biosciences announced a strategic plan for a Phase II study of its breast cancer vaccine in September 2024. The proposed trial follows a Phase I
Brenus Pharma raises funds for STC cancer research
In September 2024, Brenus Pharma announced the completion of a $25 million Series A financing round and receipt of non-dilutive funding to take the STC-1010
IO Biotech: “promising” Phase II data for cancer candidate
In September 2024, IO Biotech announced “promising” data from its Phase II basket trial of IO102-IO103 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1
Investigational mRNA vaccine has promise in cancer trial
King’s College London shared in September 2024 that an mRNA cancer immunotherapy (mRNA-4359), targeted for patients with lung cancer,
ANKTIVA and AdHER2DC trial tackles endometrial cancer
ImmunityBio announced in August 2024 that a clinical trial to study ANKTIVA and the investigational AdHER2DC vaccine in individuals with HER2-expressing endometrial cancer has opened. The trial is sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) and seeks to assess...
ULCA launches paediatric brain cancer vaccine trial
In August 2024 researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) announced the launch of a “first-of-its-kind" clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a cancer vaccine that targets H3 G34-mutant diffuse hemispheric glioma, a “highly...
Ultimovacs: UV1 combination does not meet endpoints
In August 2024 Ultimovacs announced topline data from the FOCUS Phase II trial combining UV1 and pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic or recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, revealing that the combination did not meet primary or secondary endpoints....
BioNTech announces positive results in melanoma trial
In July 2024 BioNTech announced positive topline data from its ongoing Phase II trial in patients with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma whose disease had progressed after anti-PD-(L)1-containing treatment. The trial evaluates the clinical activity and safety of...
Diakonos announces FDA Fast Track designation for DCV
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...
HOOKIPA Pharma announces start of therapeutic vaccine trial
In July 2024, HOOKIPA Pharma announced that the first person has been dosed in a Phase Ib clinical trial of HB-500, an investigational therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of HIV. The trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability, reactogenicity, and...
WHO report on therapeutic HPV vaccine development
A report shared by WHO in July 2024 presents the importance of designing therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for use in lower resource settings to ensure “maximum public health benefits”. WHO preferred product characteristics for therapeutic HPV vaccines...
Nykode’s mRNA-LNP platform has “significant advantages”
In June 2024 Nykode Therapeutics announced updates to its mRNA platform, highlighting the “significant advantages” of its APC-targeted neoantigen vaccine, delivered in an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) format. A recent study demonstrates that the APC-targeted vaccine...
Sustained improvement in Moderna and Merck 3-year data
In June 2024 Moderna and Merck announced the first presentation of results from a planned analysis from the Phase IIb randomised KEYNOTE-942/mRNA-4157-P201 study. The study evaluates mRNA-4157 (V940) in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with resected high-risk...
First enrolment in Transgene head and neck cancer trial
Transgene announced in June 2024 that the first patient has been enrolled in the Phase II part of a randomised Phase I/II clinical trial of TG4050 in the adjuvant treatment of head and neck cancer. Patient screening and enrolment are underway, with hopes of enrolling...
NHS patients access personalised cancer vaccine trials
NHS England announced in May 2024 that “thousands” of cancer patients across the country will get “fast-tracked” access to trials of personalised cancer vaccines through a new “matchmaking” service: the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP). The CVLP is platform intended...
CMV-vector vaccine a potential “shield” against cancer
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) shared in May 2024 that their platform for cytomegalovirus-based vaccines has “promise” as a “shield” against cancer. Their paper in Science Advances presents the results of immunising rhesus macaques (RM)...
International partnership to fund novel cancer research
In May 2024, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer announced a partnership with LifeArc intended to create “far-reaching impact for kids with cancer”. Funding will be provided for a CureSearch Acceleration Initiative by Dr Gregory Friedman, which aims to transform...
Nykode and MSD expand therapeutic combination collaboration
In May 2024, Nykode Therapeutics announced that it has expanded its collaboration with MSD to include a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement for a phase II trial to evaluate Nykode’s lead candidate, VB10.16, in combination with MSD’s KEYTRUDA. KEYTRUDA is...
Takeda and AC Immune sign agreement on Alzheimer’s vaccine
Takeda announced in May 2024 that it has entered an exclusive, worldwide option and license agreement with AC Immune for the latter’s active immunotherapies targeting toxic forms of amyloid beta (Abeta). This includes the vaccine ACI-24.060, which targets Alzheimer’s...
