'Warhead' for cancer proving effective
Mon, Nov 01, 1999
By Paul F. Jackson, New Haven Register Business Editor
NEW HAVEN — An anti-cancer "warhead" developed by Vion Pharmaceuticals completely destroyed a tumor in tests done on animals, company officials reported.
The test results were presented by Vion Vice President of Research Ivan King to the annual meeting of the Society for Biological Therapy held Saturday in Cambridge, Mass.
The therapy developed by the Science Park-based Vion involves injecting genetically altered salmonella bacteria — which in its natural form can be fatal — into cancerous tumors.
The salmonella are engineered to then start producing a highly toxic, anti-cancer agent known as TNF Alpha, said Thomas E. Klein, vice president of finance and chief financial officer for Vion.
The "Tapet" technology solves one of the biggest problems with chemotherapy, Klein said.
"The problem with all chemotherapy is that it's administered to the whole body, and it makes you feel tired and miserable because it's toxic.
"You want the toxicity to be concentrated in the tumor. And that's the advantage of Tapet," Klein said.
Though previous tests have shown Tapet can inhibit the growth of tumors, the latest tests done on mice were the first to show complete remission of a tumor, Klein said.
Though Vion considers the test results extremely promising, Klein cautioned that human tests have not yet started. Tests to determine the safety of the genetically altered salmonella on humans will begin over the next few weeks at the Cleveland Clinic.
The salmonella, however, won't be carrying a "warhead," or drug to battle the cancer.
"The first test in humans (for safety) won't be a warhead but a missile," Klein said.
Tapet technology was originally conceived by Yale University and licensed to Vion. Should it prove safe and effective, it could be used to treat other diseases as well.
"We can engineer the bugs to carry in all kinds of drugs," Klein said.
Vion stock closed Friday at $6.75 a share on the Nasdaq exchange, where it trades under the VION ticker symbol.
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