The Genvax technology, developed over some 13 years by Dr. Steve Ralph of Griffith University in Queensland Australia and colleagues utilises a new cancer vaccine. Vaccines work by utilising the body’s natural and powerful defence mechanisms to identify and eliminate foreign cells. In cancer this means enhancing the body’s ability to recognise cancer cells as distinct from normal cells, and activation of the immune system to remove those cells.
The technology utilises this immune mechanism, teaching it to identify and eliminate cancer cells from the body and enhance the ability to combat any re-occurrence. The key advantages over current cancer vaccines is that Genvax provides the prospect of hundreds of cancer markers rather than the handful of select markers presented by potential competitors. This increases vaccine potency and resulting killer cell elimination of tumours. There is an enhanced initial response and greater long term immunity. The Genvax vaccine is further enhanced by the inclusion of new immune adjuvants that acts to help protect the survival of the responding immune cells induced by the vaccine in the body.
The initial target application is in melanoma, the worst form of skin cancer. There are more than one million people in the world that have had a re-occurrence of melanoma and over 130,000 new cases every year. Genvax technology can be used to complement existing drug based approaches to produce synergistic improved outcomes.
Proof of Concept
Preclinical mouse studies in breast cancer and melanoma skin cancer have validated the Genvax vaccine approach. It has shown greater potency than any known formulation. The preparation of the human equivalent is easily accomplished. Indications are that the genvax vaccine has the capacity to illicit strong, sustained immune cell responses in humans leading to melanoma reduction and elimination, without side effects.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials will begin towards the end of 2007 once manufacturing and regulatory requirements have been completed. The main infrastructure will be provided through Griffiths University located on the Gold Coast in Queensland. As well as Dr Ralph, Dr Mark Smithers (Princess Alexandra Hospital/Brisbane) and Dr Peter Hersey (Mater Hospital/ Newcastle) have been recruited to assist in the trials. Both have had extensive experience in clinical melanoma trials and have access to large numbers of patients with stage II/III/IV melanoma.
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