Category Archives: Vaccines

Sellas merges with Galena to advance WT1 peptide cancer vaccine

Sellas reversed merged into Galena, a peptide vaccine company whose lead product, NeuVax, for breast cancer failed. Sellas’ lead product is galinpepimut-S for AML (acute myelogenous leukemia) and mesothelioma, as well as other cancers. Continue reading

Neo-antigen vaccines extend progression-free survival in melanoma

Two companies – Biontech, RNA vaccine and Neon Therapeutics, peptide vaccine – reported very positive results of neo-antigen vaccines in patients with refractory metastatic melanoma. Continue reading

Argos’ Phase 3 Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Study Discontinued by Data Monitoring Committee

Rocapuldencel-T is an autologous dendritic cell immunotherapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma about which we have written previously. It is produced by isolating patient tumor mRNA, which is then electroporated into patient dendritic cells in the presence of CD40 ligand. The rationale of this approach is to bypass mechanisms by which cancer cells dampen the anti-tumor immune response, including down-regulation of MHC Class I molecules. If the cancer antigens are presented on licensed dendritic cells, logically, the immune system would be appropriately stimulated to attack the cancer. Continue reading

Cell-based Immunotherapies in the News

Baxalta, the biopharmaceutical spinoff of Baxter, entered into a $1.7 B deal with Precision BioSceinces for 6 CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) projects, and Saronic Biotechnology announced positive data in preclinical studies of its autologous dendritic cell vaccine for hepatocellular carcinoma. Continue reading

Argos’ Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Study Passes Independent Data Safety Monitoring Committee Second Interim Analysis

An independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) has recommended the continuation of Argos’ pivotal phase 3 ADAPT clinical trial of AGS-003 for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) based on results of the committee’s second planned interim data analysis. The next planned interim analysis will be in 6 months. Continue reading

Glioblastoma Update – Celldex Anti-EGFRvIII Vaccine and Improves Survival; Optune Device Reduces Risk of Death

Celldex’s vaccine against the mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII), reduced the risk of death from the disease by 47% in a 73-patient randomized Phase 2 study called ReACT. In addition, the survival rate at two years was 25% for patients given the vaccine versus none in the control group. It marks the first time an immunotherapy treatment has improved survival in a randomized trial of glioblastoma patients, researchers said. It is also among the first cancer vaccines to show a survival benefit. Continue reading

ImaginAB’s Minibodies for CD8+ T Cell Targeting – Select Optimal Immunotherapy Approaches

ImaginAB and Eli Lilly announced a pre-clinical collaboration to use ImaginAb’s immune imaging agent IAB22M2C to study new T-cell therapies cancer. Continue reading

Mallinckrodt Acquires Therakos for $1.33 Billion – Cellex Treatment System

Therakos’ Cellex extracorporeal photopheresis system is used to administer autologous immune cell therapy for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), the two most common forms of which include mycosis fungoides (up to 20,000 case per year in the US) and Sézary Syndrome, which is an aggressive form of the disease.  in total, CTCL’s account for less than 4% of all non-Hodgkins lymphomas. Continue reading