The results from a phase 2 clinical trial testing the success of a cancer vaccine have been published, revealing promising improvements in mesothelioma survival. The study was conducted by Ultimovacs, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, and focused on including immunotherapy with the company’s UV1 cancer vaccine for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma.
UV1 holds promise as a potential universal cancer vaccine targeting telomerase, a common antigen present in various types of cancer. UV1’s broad applicability makes it a top candidate for the treatment of many types of cancer.
Details of the Study
The clinical trial enrolled 118 patients across six university hospitals worldwide. Although the study did not meet its main goal of improved progression-free survival, the combination of the UV1 cancer vaccine with the immunotherapy drugs Opdivo and Yervoy (brand names for nivolumab and ipilimumab) showed significant benefits in participants’ response rate and overall survival (OS).
A key factor in the success of this clinical trial is that the UV1 vaccine, when combined with Opdivo and Yervoy, didn’t create an increased risk for patients. The vaccine and immunotherapy combination was just as safe for patients as the two immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors alone. Checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy drug that blocks mesothelioma cells from subduing the immune system T cells. Blocking the mesothelioma cells allows the immune system to react properly to the presence of mesothelioma.
Additionally, researchers and doctors examined specific groups of patients and found that UV1 helped improve their progression-free survival. This was especially true for patients with epithelioid cell type pleural mesothelioma.
About Mesothelioma and Immunotherapy Treatment
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer with fewer than 3,000 new cases in the U.S. each year. Treatment options for mesothelioma are often limited as patients are typically diagnosed when the cancer has advanced significantly and past the point of treatment, or they are only candidates for aggressive surgery, which can take a toll on the body.
However, in recent years, immunotherapy for mesothelioma has become more common. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts the immune system’s response to foreign invaders, like cancer cells. This type of treatment has grown more popular because it avoids many of the severe side effects linked to chemotherapy.
Mesothelioma treatment options are ever-evolving with new developments in the cancer industry, and the UV1 vaccine is just the beginning. The publication of these trial results is a significant milestone in the search for effective mesothelioma treatment.
For more information on mesothelioma treatment and immunotherapy, contact our patient advocate, registered nurse Karen Ritter. She can answer any of your medial-related questions and connect you with top mesothelioma specialists.
Sources & Author
Ultimovacs announces publication of results from NIPU Phase II trial with UV1 vaccination in mesothelioma in European Journal of Cancer. GlobeNewswire. Retrieved from: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/03/02/2839167/0/en/Ultimovacs-announces-publication-of-results-from-NIPU-Phase-II-trial-with-UV1-vaccination-in-mesothelioma-in-European-Journal-of-Cancer.html. Accessed: 03/13/2024.
Sources & Author
