Imugene Ltd (ASX:IMU, OTC:IUGNF) has presented new and significant data on HER-Vaxx at the World Congress of Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona.
Targeting advanced stomach cancer
The findings, shared in a session titled "Basic Gastric Cancer - Biomarkers and Translational Research," highlighted the correlation between HER-Vaxx-induced antibodies and tumour reduction in patients with HER-2+ advanced stomach cancer.
Dr. Joshua Tobias from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, presented the study titled "HERIZON: A Phase 2 study of HER-Vaxx (IMU-131), a HER-2-targeting peptide vaccine plus SOC chemotherapy in patients with HER-2+ advanced stomach Cancer — Correlation of the antibody responses and clinical outcome."
The conclusions drawn from the study are as follows:
- HER-Vaxx treatment resulted in robust anti-HER-2-IgG and IgG1 antibody responses (p
- vaccination with HER-Vaxx in patients with HER-2 overexpressing gastric/gastro-esophageal junction cancer induced anti-HER-2-IgG and IgG1 subclass antibody responses (p
- HER-Vaxx-induced antibodies correlated with tumour reduction (p=0.001); and
- compared to chemotherapy alone, HER-Vaxx vaccination demonstrated a statistically significant overall survival benefit.
These findings further support the proof of concept for a first-in-class B-cell immunotherapy based on HER-2/neu peptides.
The study showed that HER-Vaxx treatment elicited strong immune responses, leading to tumour reduction and improved survival outcomes compared to chemotherapy alone.
Imugene Limited's HER-Vaxx is a peptide vaccine designed to target HER-2, a protein found in certain types of cancer cells. The vaccine induces an immune response by stimulating the production of specific antibodies, such as anti-HER-2-IgG and IgG1, which are known to play a crucial role in targeting cancer cells.
The World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, which has been the premier platform for sharing groundbreaking research and innovations in the field for the past 25 years, provided the opportunity to present these findings.
Leading global experts
The congress brought together leading experts, including gastroenterologists, oncologists, pathologists, hepatologists, clinicians, surgeons, and clinical researchers from around the world. Their collective knowledge and expertise contribute to advancing the understanding and treatment of gastrointestinal tract cancers.
HER-Vaxx's ability to generate significant immune responses and its correlation with tumour reduction offer promising insights for the development of effective immunotherapies targeting HER-2 overexpressing cancers.
Further research and clinical trials will be essential to validate these findings and explore the potential of HER-Vaxx as a therapeutic option for patients with HER-2+ advanced stomach cancer.