|
Return
to main press room
page
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Therion Obtains Rights to Novel Gene
from
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Vaccines
--Collaboration covers immunotherapy products
based on
ESO-1 tumor-associated antigen--
Cambridge, MA, and New York, NY, September 16,
1998 - Therion Biologics Corporation has acquired
from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
rights to NY-ESO-1, a novel antigen expressed in a
number of major tumor types such as breast, bladder
and lung cancer, the organizations announced today.
Therion has exclusively optioned the ESO-1 gene for
use in the Company's proprietary pox virus vectors
to create immunotherapeutic products for a broad
range of malignancies.
"This collaboration provides a pathway to rapidly
evaluate the potential benefits of ESO-1
immunotherapy in cancer patients," said Lloyd Old,
M.D., Director of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer
Research. "ESO-1 is recognized by the cellular and
humoral immune systems of cancer patients, and
cytotoxic T-cells that lyse ESO-1 expressing cancer
cells have been isolated. Therion's pox virus
vectors will enable delivery of ESO-1 in a way that
we believe should strengthen the patient's immune
reactivity to this antigen."
"ESO-1 is an important addition to Therion's
technology platform, a system that enables us to
test multiple product candidates in the clinic in
order to develop therapeutic vaccines targeted
against a variety of cancers, including breast,
prostate and ovarian cancers. We are giving this
promising antigen priority, and plan to evaluate
vaccines based on ESO-1 both alone and in
combination with other antigens and
immune-modulating proteins," said Dennis L.
Panicali, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of Therion. "This collaboration with the
Ludwig Institute also expands our outstanding
network of academic and clinical alliances,
partnerships that include leading researchers at
the National Cancer Institute and NIH-affiliated
hospitals." Dr. Panicali noted that Therion
currently has six cancer vaccines in Phase I or
Phase I/II clinical trials, and is collaborating
with Pasteur Mérieux Connaught to advance
the development of products to treat colorectal and
lung cancer and melanoma.
ESO-1 is a member of a rapidly growing family of
cancer antigens, referred to as cancer-testis (CT)
antigens because their expression in normal tissue
is restricted to testes. Other members of the CT
family of antigens are MAGE, SSX, and SCP-1. CT
antigens represent some of the most attractive
targets identified to date for cancer vaccine
development because of their specificity and their
expression by a broad range of different tumor
types.
Under terms of the collaboration, Therion will
develop live recombinant pox virus vectors that
incorporate the ESO-1 gene, producing therapeutic
vaccines designed to elicit specific immune
responses for cancer immunotherapy. The first
clinical trials of ESO-1 will be conducted by
researchers at the Ludwig Institute, and are
expected to begin in late 1999 or early 2000.
The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research,
consisting of ten distinct Branches in seven
countries, conducts basic and clinical research
focused on many areas of cancer discovery.
Laboratory and clinical scientists with expertise
in the fields of genetics, virology, immunology,
growth factors and cytokines and cell biology work
in close collaboration to maximize innovative
discoveries that are relevant to understanding the
etiology and control of cancer.
Therion Biologics Corporation is engaged in the
development of therapeutic vaccines for cancer and
preventive vaccines for AIDS. Therion is
headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
|
Contacts:
Dennis L. Panicali, Ph.D.
President and CEO
Therion Biologics Corporation
(617) 876-7779
|
Robert Gottlieb or
Sharon Karlsberg
Feinstein Kean Healthcare Inc
(617) 577-8110
|
|
Eric W. Hoffman,
Pharm.D.
Director
Office of Clinical Trials Management
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
(212) 765-3000
|
|
###
Back to
the top
|
|
