Encouraging Results Reported for Therapeutic Vaccine for Colorectal Cancer

Oxford BioMedica reported that their gene-based therapeutic vaccine TroVax®, designed to stimulate the patient's immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells, had achieved promising results in a trial with 10 patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Dr. Miles Carroll, vice president of immunotherapy, said TroVax had induced the appropriate immune response in all 10 of the patients analyzed in the Phase I/II clinical trial, with "some patients showing reductions in levels of circulating tumor marker proteins that are used as indicators" of the progression of the cancer.

"We are delighted that the TroVax trials have been so successful with such encouraging results. It is unusual for a vaccine, particularly a cancer vaccine, to elicit an immune response in all patients," said Oxford BioMedica Chief Executive Alan Kingsman.

Patients in the current trial were recruited after they had completed chemotherapy treatment. In the next trial, Carroll said TroVax likely will be tested on patients who are at a somewhat earlier stage in the disease proces while they are undergoing chemotherapy.

Other sources: Oxford BioMedica