GSK licenses cancer antigen portfolio

The licensing agreement follows a long-standing collaboration between both parties on GSK’s investigational MAGE-A3 antigen specific cancer immunotherapeutic (ASCI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This novel cancer immunotherapy is based on MAGE-A3, a tumor- specific antigen previously in-licensed by GSK from LICR.

Tumor-specific antigens are proteins expressed only by tumor cells. Once administered in combination with a specifically designed GSK proprietary adjuvant system, they are expected to trigger a specific immune response to eliminate tumor cells.

Under the terms of the agreement, GSK has licensed from LICR a significant number of cancer antigens expressed in a large variety of cancers, including NSCLC, melanoma, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, bladder cancer and liver cancer.

Promising interim results from a proof-of-concept phase II clinical trial of GSK’s MAGE-A3 ASCI in patients with NSCLC were presented at the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. These first data from GSK’s ASCI support further research in the use of these novel compounds as potential new treatment options for cancer. By licensing more antigens from LICR, GSK will be able to expand its work in other tumor types.