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Pharmaceutical industry

Generex Biotechnology Announces Promising Preclinical Studies with Immunotherapeutic Peptide Vaccine for Breast Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Scientists at Generex Biotechnology's subsidiary, Antigen Express, have made significant progress in developing an immunotherapeutic peptide vaccine for breast cancer. The vaccine, currently in Phase I clinical trials, has shown promising results in preclinical studies conducted in collaboration with Dr. Constantin Baxevanis at the Saint Savas Cancer Hospital in Athens, Greece. The studies presented at the Vaccine Technology scientific symposium in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, demonstrated that the vaccine stimulated CD4+ T helper cells, which in turn potentiated the activity of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells, leading to cures in 40% of mice and significantly slower tumor growth in the remaining mice. These findings align with the results of interim Phase I clinical trials being conducted at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in patients with breast cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • The preclinical studies demonstrated that the Antigen Express vaccine stimulated CD4+ T helper cells, potentiating the activity of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells.
  • The vaccine showed promising results in mice, with cures observed in 40% of mice and significantly slower tumor growth in the remaining mice.
  • The studies were conducted in collaboration with Dr. Constantin Baxevanis at the Saint Savas Cancer Hospital in Athens, Greece.
  • The vaccine is currently in Phase I clinical trials at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in patients with breast cancer.
  • Approximately 75% of patients with breast cancer show some level of HER-2/neu expression in their tumors.
  • Roughly 25% of breast cancers have high levels of HER-2/neu expression, making them candidates for treatment with Herceptin.
  • The vaccine has the potential to treat a significant percentage of other types of cancer, including prostate and lung cancers, which also express HER-2/neu.

Statistics:

  • 75% of patients with breast cancer show some level of HER-2/neu expression in their tumors.
  • 25% of breast cancers have high levels of HER-2/neu expression, making them candidates for treatment with Herceptin.
  • 40% of mice treated with the Antigen Express vaccine showed cures.
  • The remaining mice showed significantly slower tumor growth.

Sources:

  • Generex Biotechnology Corporation (NASDAQ: GNBT)
  • Antigen Express, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Generex Biotechnology Corporation
  • Saint Savas Cancer Hospital in Athens, Greece
  • Walter Reed Army Medical Center
  • Vaccine Technology scientific symposium in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

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