Tecemotide

Tecemotide (INN; emepepimut-S (USAN); formerly known as BLP25 or EMD 531444) is a synthetic lipopeptide that is used as antigen in an investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine (formerly known as Stimuvax, L-BLP25, BLP25 liposomal vaccine or BLP25 liposome vaccine). The investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine is designed to induce a cellular immune response to cancer cells that express MUC1, a glycoprotein antigen that is widely over-expressed on common cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. The cellular immune response may lead then to a rejection of tumor tissue expressing the MUC1 antigen.Lung cancer, Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Colorectal cancer and Multiple myelomaResults: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put the Phase III STRIDE trial on hold in March 2010 after a patient participating in a Phase II clinical trial with tecemotide in patients with multiple myeloma developed encephalitis. The study was terminated in August 2010 (16 patients were enrolled in the study).8 May 2012 Tecemotide (INN; emepepimut-S (USAN); formerly known as BLP25 or EMD 531444) is a synthetic lipopeptide that is used as antigen in an investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine (formerly known as Stimuvax, L-BLP25, BLP25 liposomal vaccine or BLP25 liposome vaccine). The investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine is designed to induce a cellular immune response to cancer cells that express MUC1, a glycoprotein antigen that is widely over-expressed on common cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. The cellular immune response may lead then to a rejection of tumor tissue expressing the MUC1 antigen. Tecemotide was developed – until Clinical trial phase II – by the Canadian biotech company Biomira Inc., which changed in 2007 the company name to Oncothyreon Inc. Oncothyreon is now located in Seattle, Washington, USA. Reformed to SGEN after M&A in march 2018. In 2001, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with Oncothyreon. In 2007, Merck KGaA acquired the exclusive worldwide marketing rights from Oncothyreon and Merck KGaA is since then entirely responsible for the further clinical development of Tecemotide. In 2008, Merck KGaA acquired the manufacturing rights for Tecemotide from Oncothyreon. In 2011, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japan, acquired a co-development and co-marketing license for Tecemotide in Japan and Merck KGaA received an upfront payment of 5 million Euros. 3-O-Deacyl-4’-Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) is the adjuvant in the cancer vaccine. MPL is a derivative of the lipid A molecule found in the membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. MPL is also used as adjuvant in other vaccines, e.g. Cervarix which is a vaccine against certain types of cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV).