Gothenburg, 2013-08-19 10:05 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faster pace than expected, Immunicum completes treatment of the last patient in its kidney cancer vaccine phase I/II-study already in August
Immunicum AB (publ) today announced that the last scheduled patient in the Company's phase I/II study in metastatic renal cancer has received the concluding dose of the cancer vaccine INTUVAX®.
The study is conducted at the University Hospital in Uppsala and at Norrland University Hospital. A total of 12 patients with metastatic renal cancer have been treated with the cancer vaccine INTUVAX® and the results have so far shown promise.
On May 20, Immunicum reported a status update where the Company concluded that no serious vaccine-related adverse events have been recorded and that the immune system appears to be activated specifically against cancer. In addition, immunological findings suggest that the immune system also has an effect on metastases and not only in the primary tumor where the vaccine was administered. No patients have yet passed away and survival data for patients with poor prognosis already looks promising. Two patients in this subgroup have thus far shown an average survival of about 14 months, which may be compared to the expected median survival of 5 months for untreated patients and about 8 months for patients treated with existing therapies, such as Sutent, that are also associated with adverse effects.
- The patients were included faster than expected and we now plan to complete the final study report at the beginning of next year. We are obviously very pleased with the promising survival data we have seen so far but it is not until we have completed the final report that we can better determine their validity and other efficacy parameters we study, says Jamal El-Mosleh, CEO of Immunicum.
In parallel with the completion of the phase I/II-study in renal cancer, Immunicum will intensify its work in the fall with planning the upcoming phase II-trial in renal cancer and focus on the initiation of the Company’s newly approved phase I/II-trial in liver cancer. The first patient in the liver cancer study is expected to be treated around the turn of the year.
Immunicum’s patented vaccine is based on over 30 years of research in the field of transplantation immunology and activates the body's own immune system to attack harmful substances like tumor cells. Immunicum’s shares have been traded since April 22, 2013 on NASDAQ OMX First North under the ticker IMMU.
G&W Fondkommission is chosen as the Company’s Certified Adviser.
Tel: +468-503 000 50. www.gwkapital.se.
For further information please contact:
Jamal El-Mosleh, CEO of Immunicum, 0703-31 90 51,
jamal.el-mosleh@immunicum.com
About Immunicum AB (publ):
Immunicum AB (publ) develops cancer immunotherapies. Its two main groups of therapeutic cancer vaccines, SUBCUVAX® and INTUVAX®, and the method of expansion of tumor-specific T-cells (CD70) is based on the Nobel prize awarded discovery of the dendritic cell and its central role in the activation of the specific immune response. Because the raw material consists of dendritic cells from healthy donors, Immunicum’s products can be produced in large scale. The vaccines have earlier proven efficacy in animal studies and are now undergoing clinical trials in patients.