Asterias’ Novel Immunotherapy Treatment AST-VAC2 Moves into Clinical Trials
Cancer Research UK, along with its commercial arm Cancer Research Technology (CRT), has partnered with US biotech company Asterias Biotherapeutics to conduct clinical trials of AST-VAC2, a novel immunotherapy treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.
AST-VAC2 is a non-patient specific cancer vaccine derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). It aims to stimulate patients' immune systems to target telomerase, a protein found in over 95% of cancers but rarely expressed in normal adult cells.
The clinical trial will assess the safety, toxicity, feasibility, immune response stimulation, and clinical outcomes of AST-VAC2 in patients with resected early-stage lung cancer and advanced forms of the disease.
As part of the agreement, Asterias will develop the manufacturing process for AST-VAC2, while Cancer Research UK will produce the vaccine and conduct Phase I/II clinical trials in the UK. Upon completion of the trial, Asterias will have the option to acquire an exclusive license to the trial data, subject to pre-agreed terms including upfront payment, milestones, and royalties. If Asterias declines this option, CRT will have the opportunity to obtain a license to Asterias' intellectual property, enabling the continued development and commercialization of AST-VAC2 and related products, with a revenue share to Asterias from development and partnering proceeds. Specific financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
The development of AST-VAC2 follows successful early phase clinical trials of a similar vaccine called AST-VAC1, which was derived from patients' blood cells and tested in prostate cancer and acute myeloid leukemia.
