June 25, 2019, Lelystad, The Netherlands – Pepscan has positioned itself as a critical partner in a collaborative clinical trial with personalized anti-cancer vaccines. In this trial, Pepscan is solely responsible for production of clinical neoantigen peptides, tailored to tumors of individual patients.
Neoantigens, or tumor-specific antigens, are peptide sequences uniquely identified in proteins expressed in tumor cells from individual patients. Pepscan’s in vitro synthesized neoantigen peptides constitute the core active ingredient of the anti-cancer vaccines. These vaccines are designed to stimulate the patient’s immune system to attack the tumor, thus stopping or reducing cancerous growth. Neoantigen vaccination is a novel and rapidly developing personalized cancer treatment, with significant potential for patients.
Pepscan and its undisclosed partners have successfully started patient enrollment in the clinical trial. The patients have received first doses of the neoantigen vaccines, and early results are expected in Q4 2019.
“This unique project with such renowned European partners is a major step forward for Pepscan.”, says Evert van Dijk, CCO of Pepscan, “Our crucial contribution to this clinical trial establishes us as a key supplier of peptide technologies in the cancer vaccine field.”
Pepscan has over 25 years of experience in complex peptides and peptide libraries. The company offers her expertise to new personalized cancer vaccine initiatives now, contributing to new avenues towards personalized cancer treatment.