Stimuvax is a type of therapeutic vaccine that targets a specific protein found in many tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer. It was developed by Biomira following Cancer Research UK-funded studies. Biomira have already run phase II trials with very encouraging results.
The international phase III trial is expected to enroll its first patient this month. The trials will be run by pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA. Merck KGaA also plans to investigate the use of Stimuvax for other types of cancer.
Therapeutic vaccines are unlike preventative vaccines, they are treatments that induce the body’s own immune system to identify and kill existing cancer cells. Stimuvax is designed to stimulate the immune system to recognize and react to a molecule called MUC1, which is much more abundant on tumor cells than healthy cells. The immune system then kills the cancer cells with MUC1.
“Targeted vaccines are an exciting approach that could potentially offer new treatment options for major types of cancer,” said Dr Keith Blundy, COO of Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), Cancer Research UK’s development and commercialization company.