Summary: US scientists have published promising clinical data on vaccination
with a telomerase peptide in breast cancer. The peptide is claimed in
Pharmexa's granted European patent.
A group of prominent scientists from the Abramson Cancer Center and the
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has published new clinical data
on vaccination with the telomerase peptide I540 in 19 metastatic breast cancer
patients. The results were published in the recent edition of the scientific
journal Cancer Research (Cancer Research; 67: (21). November 1, 2007).
The results show that vaccination with the I540 telomerase peptide led to
changes in the tumor microenvironment, infiltration of T-cells and widespread
tumor necrosis (tumor death). Furthermore, an exploratory analysis revealed
that the median overall survival was significantly longer in those patients who
achieved an immune response to the I540 peptide compared to patients who did
not. Immune responses to a control peptide did not correlate with survival.
The I540 telomerase peptide and its use in cancer immunotherapy is claimed in
Pharmexa's granted European patent. This and other claims on a number of
telomerase peptides including GV1001 were recently upheld by the Appeal Board
of the European Patent Office.
Jakob Schmidt, CEO of Pharmexa says: “Evidence of the importance of telomerase
as a target for immunotherapy against a wide range of cancers continues to
mount. This supports our ongoing efforts with GV1001 in pancreatic, liver and
lung cancer. Whereas the I540 peptide is restricted to use in a selected group
of patients with the correct genetic background (HLA-A2), GV1001 is designed to
work in all patients”.
Hørsholm, November 2, 2007
Jakob Schmidt
Chief Executive Officer
Additional information: Jakob Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, telephone +45
4516 2525
Claude Mikkelsen, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communication,
telephone +45 4516 2525 or +45 4060 2558
Note to editors: Pharmexa A/S is a leading company in the field of active
immunotherapy and vaccines for the treatment of cancer, serious chronic and
infectious diseases. Pharmexa's proprietary technology platforms are broadly
applicable, allowing the company to address critical targets in cancer and
chronic diseases, as well as serious infectious diseases such as HIV,
influenza, hepatitis and malaria. Its leading programs are GV1001, a peptide
vaccine that has entered phase III trials in pancreatic cancer and phase II
trials in liver cancer, and HIV and hepatitis vaccines in phase I/II.
Collaborative agreements include H. Lundbeck, Innogenetics, IDM Pharma and
Bavarian Nordic. With operations in Denmark, Norway and USA, Pharmexa employs
approximately 105 people and is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange under
the trading symbol PHARMX.
