MVA-BN® PRO
Prostate cancer immunotherapy product candidate
MVA-BN® PRO is is designed to express sequences that
control immunity to PSA and Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP). These
highly prostate-specific antigens have shown promise as tumor
targets when evaluated separately in clinical studies. PSA is the
target of the PROSTVAC® immunotherapy program. The concomitant
targeting of two prevalent antigens to treat prostate cancer is a
distinctive feature of MVA-BN® PRO. It is anticipated that this
feature will confer superior cancer vaccine efficacy and alleviate
tumor immune evasion.
The dual vaccine properties of MVA-BN® PRO were verified in
preclinical studies that showed induction of broad and
comprehensive immune responses to both PSA and PAP following
administration of MVA-BN® PRO.
Based on the positive preclinical evaluation of MVA-BN® PRO,
a Phase I/II safety and tolerability study in 18 male patients with
non-metastatic hormone-insensitive prostate cancer has begun in the
US. Preliminary immune evaluation of T-cell responses have showed
vaccine-induced responses to both PSA and PAP. Most importantly,
treatment in this patient population also resulted in the induction
of T-cell responses to tumor antigens other than PSA and PAP. These
preliminary data are encouraging as it suggests that MVA-BN®
PRO-induced anti-PSA and PAP responses may have led to tumoricidal
activity.
