New HER2 vaccine trial to watch for
Mayo Clinic
Cancer
TapImmune Inc. has signed an exclusive Licensing Option agreement with Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, for clinical development of a breast cancer vaccine technology. The option to license this technology can be exercised after Phase I clinical trials under terms agreed between Mayo Clinic and TapImmune. Mayo Clinic will conduct a Phase I clinical trial in breast cancer patients who have a form of breast cancer that express Her2/neu receptors (also called Her2/neu breast cancer). Keith Knutson, M.D. will serve as Principal Investigator.
Her2/neu receptor related cancer is a very aggressive form of breast cancer that affects a subset of breast cancer patients. It is a well established therapeutic target, which helps our development goals from a regulatory standpoint. For example, Herceptin (a Her2/neu inhibitor by Genentech) is an approved drug with annual sales in excess of $4 Billion. </STRONG>
There are ongoing vaccine trials targeting Her2/neu. The major disadvantage (as we understand) of technologies that are currently in development are their inability to cover all or a majority of Her2/neu cancer patients and their ability for long-term protection. Some of them seem to be effective only in a subset of Her2/neu cancer patients due to the nature of the peptide epitopes used. Along with Mayo we believe this technology is could cover up to 90% of the Her2/neu patients and last a very long time (if not a life time), which is an improvement that could cover an additional 30% of the population who may not be covered by the other technologies that are currently in development. </STRONG>
Dr Glynn Wilson, Executive Chairman of TapImmune, stated, “The option to license this technology from Mayo Clinic represents a significant opportunity to add to our cancer vaccine portfolio and clinical research programs. We believe that this technology offers a number of advantages in the development of a breast cancer vaccine for a broad patient population
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Live in the moment.
MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~
Found suspicious lump 9/2000
Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement
Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds
36 rads - very little burning
3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum
Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED!
2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa
Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18
All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET
Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying
Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa
Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?)
2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011
STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones
Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.
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