Vaxon Biotech Granted Patent for New Cancer Vaccine Candidates

Vaxon Biotech recently announced it has been granted a new patent in Japan. This patent (JP application n°2012-502822) covers a series of optimized cryptic peptides to be used in the design of the Vbx-026, a new cancer vaccine for solid tumors. This patent gives Vaxon exclusive rights in Japan and raises its worldwide portfolio to 24 issued patents.

The patent will support the development of Vbx-026, a vaccine dedicated to the treatment of cancer patients expressing the HLA-A24 molecule. This molecule is widely expressed in the Asian population, mainly in Japan, with more than 40% of the Japanese population expressing HLA-A24. The initiation of preclinical development of the Vbx-026 vaccine is planned for 2016.

“This new patent will strengthen our position in Japan, a promising market for the development of the Vbx-026 vaccine,” said Dr. Kostas Kosmatopoulos, CEO of Vaxon Biotech. “With four cancer vaccines under development, ranging from lead optimization to Phase II, we have built a strong patent portfolio and we now cover the three major HLA molecules, corresponding to around 80% of cancer patients.”

Vaxon Biotech develops therapeutic vaccines against cancer, based on its proprietary technology of optimized cryptic peptides, which are protected by 10 patent families. All vaccines developed by Vaxon target universal tumor antigens and therefore have wide-ranging applications in cancer treatment.

Vx-001 and Vx-006 are already in clinical trials (Vx-001 in an ongoing randomized Phase II trial in eight European countries and Vx-006 in an ongoing Phase I trial). Vbx-016 has successfully completed its preclinical development and is ready to enter clinical trials, and Vbx-026 is at the final stage of lead optimization.

Vx-001 and Vx-006 can be used for the treatment of patients expressing HLA-A2, the most common HLA molecule in humans (40% to 45% of the world population). Vx-001 and Vx-006 are fully protected by a total of 17 patents granted in Europe, the US, Canada, China, and Japan. These patents belong to four patent families and cover peptide optimization technology, the products derived from this technology and their use. Six of these patents belong to INSERM/IGR and have been licensed to Vaxon Biotech, while the remaining 11 are Vaxon’s own property.

Vbx-016 can be used for the treatment of patients expressing HLA-B7, a common HLA molecule (25% of the population). Vbx-016 is already protected by three patent families. Five patents are already granted in Europe, the US, China, and South Korea. Additional patents are still under review. All these patents are Vaxon’s own property.

The global market for cancer vaccines is expected to grow to $4.3 billion (€3.8 billion) by 2019, with a 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.3%. Technological advancements, new product launches, and unmet treatment needs are predicted to drive consistent growth in this market for the foreseeable future.

Vaxon Biotech specializes in anti-tumor immunotherapy through an innovative therapeutic approach. This approach aims to stimulate the immune system to target and destroy tumor cells, halting tumor development. The company is currently developing four products, two in clinical development and two at the preclinical stage. The most advanced product in its portfolio, Vx-001, is a peptide-based vaccine for HLA-A2-positive patients with TERT-expressing tumors. It has been in Phase IIb trials for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in eight European countries since 2012.

Vaxon Biotech is also developing another product, Vx-006, a polypeptide designed to treat solid tumors. This product is currently in a Phase I clinical study that aims to evaluate toxicity and measure the immune response induced by Vx-006. The results of the study will be made public in late 2015.

Based in Paris and Evry, France, Vaxon Biotech was founded in 2004 on the basis of work undertaken by Dr. Kostas Kosmatopoulos at Inserm, France’s national institute of health and medical research, and the Institut Gustave Roussy (IGR), a leading cancer research institute. The two institutes have granted Vaxon Biotech an exclusive worldwide license for three patents, with the company having subsequently filed seven more patents in its own name.

ANR (French Agence Nationale de la Recherche) has subsidized the initial R&D for Vbx-016 and Vbx-026. Genopole-Evry and Inserm-Transfert have supported Vaxon Biotech since its inception; they are both historical shareholders in the company. For more information, visit www.vaxon-biotech.com.