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Pharma & Bio Ingredients
The immunotherapeutic vaccine being developed at Antigen Express, AE37, is designed to elicit a specific response against a protein encoded by the HER-2/neu oncogene, which is expressed in a high percentage of various types of cancer. The trials have shown that the vaccine is safe, well-tolerated and produces a significant immune response in breast cancer patients. While the target of AE37 is the same as that of the marketed cancer drug Herceptin, the activity of AE37 relies on its ability to stimulate a patient's own immune system to recognize the cancer target rather than by interacting with the target directly. The advantage of this is that the immune system, once activated, is capable of detecting lower levels of the target protein than is Herceptin and that the anti-tumor activity lasts long after termination of AE37 treatment.
"The Phase I studies have been successful both in establishing the safety of AE37 as well as in determining an optimal biological dose," said Dr. Eric von Hofe, president of Antigen Express. "The results of these studies provide a solid foundation both for subsequent Phase II studies designed to look at the efficacy AE37 and for upcoming clinical trials on the use of AE37 in prostate cancer patients."
