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Archived Press Releases
May 24, 2000
Grant of Key Cancer Vaccine Patent in US
May 24, 2000. Onyvax Limited (London, UK; www.onyvax.com) has received
notice of the grant of US patent number 6042827 entitled 'Anti-idiotypic
Antibody Induction of Anti-tumor Response'.
The patent, licensed exclusively from Cancer Research Campaign
Technology (London, UK), covers the antibody 105AD7, an anti-idiotype
vaccine that can induce both cellular and humoral immune responses
against the widespread tumour antigen CD55. The direct attack on
tumors thereby generated in itself leads to a therapeutic response.
In addition, CD55 is a key part of tumors' defense against complement,
an important arm of the immune system; by disarming this mechanism,
the cancer will be more susceptible to immune-mediated destruction.
Dr Andrew D. Sutton, Head of Research and Development said: "This,
our first granted US patent, is an important milestone for Onyvax.
It underpins our current clinical research on antibody 105AD7 which
we believe will be a potent vaccine against a broad range of cancers.
Our first trials have been initiated in early- and late-stage colorectal
cancer patients with results due in approximately 18 months."
Onyvax is a private company focussed on the development of therapies
that harness the power of the immune system in the fight against
cancer. It is believed that such an approach will benefit from the
power and selectivity of the immune system whilst offering an excellent
side-effect profile. To this end, Onyvax is developing vaccines
targeted to specific cancers. The company currently has three vaccines
in clinical trials, two based on whole-cell technology in prostate
and colorectal cancers and one based on anti-idiotype antibody 105AD7.
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