GPS Vaccine Plus Opdivo Shows Promise for Pleural Mesothelioma

A novel, targeted cancer vaccine combined with the immunotherapy drug Opdivo has shown surprising efficacy for mesothelioma patients whose disease no longer responds to standard chemotherapy. In a phase I clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the galinpepimut-S vaccine, also known as GPS, has produced an impressive, anti-tumor synergy with Opdivo, based upon early data. GPS targets the WT1 protein, which is expressed in high levels of various cancers but rarely seen in normal adult cells. The protein has been especially resistant to standard chemotherapy. The vaccine works by inducing a powerful T-cell immune response against the WT1 antigen. Apart from a low-grade, temporary reaction at the injection site, the vaccine has shown few side effects. SELLAS Life Sciences Group, a biopharmaceutical company based in Switzerland, developed the vaccine. It has already received orphan drug and fast track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Patients treated with this combination appear to be living longer than expected,” Dr. Angelos Stergiou, president and CEO at SELLAS, told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “It has been quite impressive.” Find Immunotherapy Clinical Trials Learn how to access mesothelioma clinical trials for immunotherapy. ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news