IDM Signs an R&D Agreement on Anti-Cancer Vaccine with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Monday November 8, 2:35 am ET
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 2004--IDM (Immuno-Designed Molecules), a biopharmaceutical company specialized in immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer, announced today the signing of a research and development agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research located in Silver Spring, Maryland.
This agreement involves the development of an anti-cancer vaccine containing the KSA antigen which is expressed in most carcinomas (in particular prostate, breast, lung and colorectal tumors). IDM owns worldwide exclusive rights to the KSA antigen.
The three-year project will include the GMP production of the vaccine and its Phase II clinical development for treatment of prostate cancer. The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research will produce the vaccine, collect and analyze pre-clinical data, and validate the product for clinical use.
The results of a Phase I trial on this anti-cancer KSA vaccine have been published in the journal Vaccine in 2004(a). This study was carried out at the University of Alabama Birmingham on 11 patients with metastasized colorectal cancer. No significant side effects were observed, and 8 out of 11 patients developed a specific immune response with anti-KSA antibodies.
"We are very proud of this agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research which has a worldwide reputation of excellence in vaccine development," said Dr. Jean-Loup Romet-Lemonne, President and CEO. "This collaboration reinforces IDM's presence in the United States," he added.
# (a) Vaccine, vol. 22: 773-780, 2004 |
