CENTRO DI RIFERIMENTO ONCOLOGICO
Technology Transfer Opportunities Contact: Ermes Mestroni emestroni@cro.it
OPTIMIZED RECOMBINANT IDIOTYPIC VACCINES FOR IMPROVED IMMUNOTHERAPY OF B CELL LYMPHOMAS Technology Overview – PCT/IB 2008/001936 Therapeutic vaccines targeting the variable portions of the immunoglobulins expressed by lymphomas (idiotypes) represent a promising approach against these malignancies. A broad use of idiotypic vaccination, however, is hampered by the complexity and costs due to the individualized production of these vaccines. These limitations may be overcome by exploiting the molecular similarities existing among the idiotypes expressed by different subsets of lymphomas and leukemias.
A team of Italian researchers at the CRO - IRCCS has designed highly innovative “shared” idiotypic vaccines on the basis of the sequence similarities of the immunoglobulins expressed by distinct subsets of B cell lymphoproliferative disorders. The vaccines have been optimized by introducing selected amino acid changes to improve immunogenicity. Advantages √ Ready-to-use recombinant vaccines produced according to GMP standards (Areta International, Gerenzano, VA), √ Enhanced immunogenicity as compared to fully autologous vaccines, √ Applicaple to abroad spectrum of patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, √ Reduced production costs.
CENTRO DI RIFERIMENTO ONCOLOGICO
Technology Transfer Opportunities Contact: Ermes Mestroni emestroni@cro.it
Development Stage The immunogenicity of a first set of “shared” idiotypic vaccines has been extensively characterized in vitro and in vivo. These vaccines also showed the ability to elicit crossreactive immune responses against lymphoma cells expressing molecularly similar idiotypes. The first “shared” idiotypic vaccine obtained so far demonstrated efficacy in animal models without inducing detectable toxic effects. Further preclinical investigation is ongoing to obtain all necessary data to apply to the Regulatory Agencies for the activation of a first Phase I/II clinical trial.
Looking for Collaborations with industrial partners aimed to: ⇒ Support the development phase for entering the available vaccines in clinical trials and in their future commercialization, ⇒ Develop and optimize new cancer vaccines, ⇒ Study the efficacy of new vaccines, ⇒ Produce diagnostic kits for immunomonitoring.
More Information Dr. Riccardo Dolcetti, Head Cancer Bio-Immunotherapy Unit rdolcetti@cro.it +39-0434-659-660/676