Vaxinia - what’s all the fuss aboutThe results showed a disease...

Vaxinia - what’s all the fuss about

The results showed a disease control rate of 75% without adverse safety signals, suggesting VAXINIA's high therapeutic window and potential as a potent anti-cancer drug for hard-to-treat bile duct cancer. Leslie Chong, Imugene's MD & CEO, hailed VAXINIA as a promising anti-cancer solution.

Professor Yuman Fong starts many of his lectures with the analogy that it’s not so far fetched to think one day we could design a virus that kills only cancer cells, when we consider that over one hundred years ago a virus was utilised to cure the then deadly small pox disease. But today, in 2023, many are unable fathom that a virus could be administered to eradicate cancer cells in the body of extremely sick cancer patients, and in doing so leave their healthy cells alone. Many find it difficult to comprehend that these viruses, in particular Vaxinia, infect then blow up or burst the solid tumours in a cancer patients body. It’s quite amazing to think that these tumours, having exploded, then release tumor proteins or antigens, which the immune system recognises as foreign. Perhaps even more unreal is that following on from this release the immune response is to mount an attack against these antigens, resulting in further death of tumor cells. I guess what’s more remarkable is the immune system’s ability to actually recognise these tumor cells, creating a memory against the tumor antigens, which can help prevent cancer recurrence.

Eventually as outlined above Oncolytic viruses use these cancer cell-specific proteins and receptors to target cancer cells. The ongoing replication of the virus to kill ones cancer cells indicates the virus has the potential to prove efficacious, even at low doses. Hence the reason there may still be hope for the large number of patients in Imugene’s current Vaxinia (MAST) Trial, who have seen their cancer stabilise in recent months. As the virus continues to replicate within their bodies, they too may have the potential to fight off cancer cells within, enabling their healthy cells to prove successful in the fight against cancer. As Professor Yuman Fong, the founder of the CF33/Vaxinia virus once noted, “Interestingly, the same characteristics that eventually make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy or radiation treatment, actually enhance the success of oncolytic viruses, such as CF33-hNIS.”

But unfortunately due to FDA restrictions and clinical trial guidelines the initial patients within the Vaxinia Trial, as we now know, were dosed with exceptionally small doses of Vaxinia. Perhaps not enough Vaxinia to eradicate the tumours present in these already incredibly sick patients. These late stage cancer patient’s no doubt possess weak immune systems, as a result of having undergone several treatment lines prior to enrolling in Imugene’s trial.

Though despite these initial hindrances we must acknowledge the fact what Professor discovered pre-clinically, that being Vaxinia’s ability to destroy and treat any form of cancer, is in itself being replicated in the current 100 patient strong trial. The viruses ability to target any form of cancer is the reason why it is so unique, so powerful, and in essence so different to all those vaccines, viruses, cancer drugs and treatment arms that have come before it. Early results from six patients with gastrointestinal cancers who received VAXINIA alone — including 2 colorectal cancer, 2 bile duct, 1 pancreatic and 1 liver cancer — showed positive treatment effects, with a disease control rate (all CR, PR and SD) of 75%. Prior to launching the current Vaxinia (MAST) Trial Professor Yuman Fong, the chair of the Department of Surgery at City of Hope, told Medical News Today, “The particular importance of CF33/Vaxinia is that this virus is designed to target all types of cancers. It is one of the first of a new generation of therapeutic viruses that would be much more potent than prior viruses, and it is potentially more selective for cancer while able to spare normal tissues.”

Now we have established Vaxinia’s effects when given to solid tumor cancer patients, of any particular cancer indication, one may start to question what a drug with the potential to eliminate cancer could be worth. It’s truly mind blowing I suppose for the average lay person, who understands the sheer cost of going to hospital for a day, let alone months, as a consequence of suffering from this insidious disease. Not to mention the extraneous cost of medication in this arena, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient in many instances. The mind does boggle as to what the success of such a drug could mean to the standard of care as we know it. Particularly if Vaxinia could be administered intravenously, in order to significantly reduce hospital hours, staff costs and the ancillary medical expense associated with in hospital care.

The recent results released by Vaxinia’s licensing body, Imugene (IMU-ASX), would suggest the virus could actually be able to fulfil the expectations of Professor Yuman Fong, in one day becoming human therapy in the treatment of cancer. For Professor Fong believes that as opposed to the minuscule amounts of Vaxinia dosed to patients thus far, he can administer much, much more of the drug, before the hint of toxicity sets in. These larger doses should lead to even more positive patient responses, according to those overseeing the trial rollout. Therefore If patients continue to see their disease stabilise, if not disappear, one could only assume Vaxinia would be even more successful in treating earlier stage cancer patients, with stronger levels of immunity, than those having undergone extensive treatment prior.

Its starting to add up to big dollars for Imugene, who until recently have assumed poor cousin status when it comes to ASX investing. I suppose people thought me a weirdo for predicting a $1 price tag for IMU prior to the end of 2023. In retrospect I could have been putting the cart before the horse. That said I was anticipating seeing published Vaxinia results prior to this week. Yet either way Imugene is on the road to riches as she rides on the back of the Vaxinia. To date no drug in the history of mankind has come anywhere close to treating all cancer indications. Solid tumours have until now been all but “off limits” for Big Pharma, who have been falling over themselves to reset their portfolios toward the oncology space. Everything appears to be falling into place, as Oncarlytics and now azer cel look to hop on board Vaxinia as well. My thoughts at this stage of the race are to not become too obsessed with the IMU share price. Professor Yuman Fong’s gift of nature is delivering. It’s simply a matter of time. Time, a commodity that up until now many cancer patients in the current Vaxinia (MAST) Trial didn’t have on their side.

Dyor Seek investment advice as and when required Opinions only