The World Economic Forum https://www.weforum.org noted recently that cancer kills around 10 million people a year and is a leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization.Breast, lung and colon cancer are among the most common. Death rates from cancer were falling before the pandemic. But COVID-19 caused a big backlog in diagnosis and treatment.
In a recent article they highlighted some good news, however. Medical advances are accelerating the battle against cancer. Of 10 recent developments discussed in the article most were centred around AI and its ability to identify cancer much earlier than is currently the case due to a persons genetic disposition. Though another development caught my eye, relating to Roche Therapeutics Tercentriq, with whom Imugene’s PD1 Vaxx is currently in a combination trial.
Tercentriq and the seven-minute cancer treatment jab
England's National Health Service (NHS) is to be the first in the world to make use of a cancer treatment injection, which takes just seven minutes to administer, rather than the current time of up to an hour to have the same drug via intravenous infusion. This will not only speed up the treatment process for patients, but also free up time for medical professionals. The drug, Atezolizumab or Tecentriq, treats cancers including lung and breast, and it's expected most of the 3,600 NHS patients in England currently receiving it intravenously will now switch to the jab.
Following on from a clinical trial involving 371 patients with non small cell lung cancer the drug has recently received marketing authorisation from the European Commission (EC) for its immunotherapy Tecentriq SC (atezolizumab) for subcutaneous administration to treat cancers. The new formulation is set to significantly reduce treatment time for patients, from the 30–60 minutes required for intravenous (IV) infusion to approximately seven minutes with the subcutaneous method.
Roche Global Product Development head and chief medical officer Levi Garraway stated: “We are pleased to introduce the first subcutaneous PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy in Europe. Giving Tecentriq subcutaneously provides more flexibility to patients, while also helping to free up resources in constrained healthcare systems.”
Tercentriq and PD1 Vaxx
One of Tercentriq’s major claims to fame is that it has doubled the two year survival for patients with non small cell lung cancer from 12% to 24%, over and above the current standard of care, that being chemotherapy alone. There are hopes Imugene’s PD1 Vaxx Combination Trial with Tercentriq, referred to as IMPRINTER, can enhance the benefits of Tercentriq even further, given the B cell immunotherapies safety profile and encouraging efficacy in patients with NSCLC. Having dosed the first patient in June 2023, with the trial taking place both in the US and Australia, interim data is surely not too far away for both Roche and Imugene shareholders.
PD1 Vaxx and patent protection
The good news for investors is that if successful Imugene has secured extensive patents for PD1 Vaxx, giving the drug territorial advantage throughout the US, Asia, Europe and more recently Japan. These patents protect to 2038 the composition of matter and method of treatment in cancer of Imugene's PD1-Vaxx for the generation of a therapeutic antibody response against the programmed death-1 (PD1) checkpoint target. Imugene’s chief executive officer and managing director Leslie Chong said in late 2023 that over above the European, US and Japanese patents applications are pending in Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Brazil and Australia.
PD1 Vaxx travels to the UK for a Phase 2 hitout
In addition to the PD1 combination trial with Tercetriq Imugene recently announced PD1 Vaxx commenced a colorectal cancer trial in the UK. Imugene confirmed it has signed a letter of intent to undertake a phase 2 clinical trial in the UK under which the PD1-Vaxx vaccine will be evaluated for patients diagnosed with operable CRC. In December last year Dr Tony Dhillon, based at the Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Foundation Trust noted the forthcoming trial could be potentially groundbreaking, using a vaccine to PD-1 in MSI High early colorectal cancer. Ms Chong said this important phase 2 trial with PD1-Vaxx is being undertaken after Imugene was approached by the leading CRC oncologists from both Australia and the UK.
PD1 Vaxx - combinations, a complete response and conclusions
Both lung cancer and colorectal cancer are large killers of individuals worldwide. There is hope Imugene’s PD1 Vaxx can combine to treat these patients in a safe and tolerable manner, whilst adding to the life expectancy of those suffering from the diseases. Back in 2021 a patient had a complete response having been treated with PD1 Vaxx, in a Phase 1 dose escalation trial for late stage lung cancer patients. The patient is still alive today.
Studies performed by the PD1 Vaxx founder Professor Pravin Kauyama have concluded the antibodies generated from PD-L1 vaccination can induce apoptosis and ADCC. Taken together, with effectively blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, the vaccine is efficacious in inhibiting tumor growth in multiple tumor syngeneic models. Professor Kauyama is on record as stating the combination of immune checkpoints targeted vaccines or with other traditional cancer therapeutic treatment should be the priority. By combining with market leaders such as Roche, who are developing cutting edge technology, such as the 7 minute jab, Imugene are in a strong position to develop their extensive immunotherapy pipeline in a professional and systematic manner.
Imugene PD1 Vaxx and Pravin Kauyama
Imugene is not only going to benefit from Professor Kauyama’s peptide expertise in the cancer indications of lung and colorectal cancer. Soon the Australian biotech may benefit from the PD1 Vaxx founders breast cancer expertise as well. On February 8 this year, less than a month ago, the renowned innovator of vaccines for cancer treatment joined the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and the IU School of Medicine. Pravin Kaumaya, PhD, internationally recognised for creating a cancer treatment blueprint that uses peptides in vaccines to block the growth and spread of cancer, was named the Vera Bradley Foundation Professor of Breast Cancer Innovation at the cancer center. At the time the University stated:
"We could not be more excited about Dr. Pravin Kaumaya and the knowledge, experience and expertise he brings," said Stephanie Scheele, executive director of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. "Knowing that some of his research and work, specifically regarding breast cancer, are already in clinical trials excites us. The addition of Dr. Kaumaya moves us one step closer to a future free from breast cancer.”
Imugene - taking a professional approach to cancer research
Between strong companies such as Roche, leading universities in the UK, such as the University of Southampton, and world leading innovators, such as Professor Pravin Kauyama, Imugene is well on the way to securing an indelible footprint in the fight against cancer. With complete responses across a broad range of cancer indications, the future looks bright for Imugene. Competitively priced immunotherapies that reduce hospital treatment time in a safe and tolerable environment, ensure Imugene’s efficacious therapies deliver much promise for those inflicted with some of the world’s deadliest diseases.
DYOR - Seek investment advice as and when required Opinions only
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