Anti-tumour vaccine trial to start mid-2016
Imugene (AX:IMU) will test its reformulated therapeutic cancer vaccine, HER-Vaxx, in gastric cancer at trial sites in Asia. The Phase Ib/II trial is expected to start in mid-2016. HER-Vaxx aims to replicate or improve on the combination of two proven therapeutic antibodies, Herceptin and Perjeta (Roche). Imugene aims to gain a major pharma deal following Phase II data in the buoyant cancer immunotherapy area. A$3.0m raised in October gives it sufficient funds to undertake the Phase Ib component of the trial.
Phase Ib/II gastric cancer trial to be based in Asia
Imugene is moving its upcoming Phase Ib/II study to trial sites in Asia. The previous strategy had been to do the trial in Australia and Eastern Europe, but government plans to subsidise Herceptin treatment for HER2 positive gastric cancer patients would have made recruitment in Australia difficult. Novotech has been appointed as the CRO to manage the trial at a number of leading cancer centres in Asia. The level of HER2 antibodies produced after treatment with HER-Vaxx will be measured in the Phase Ib trial, which will be an important pointer towards potential efficacy.