On June 6, 2023 Defence Therapeutics Inc. ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of immune-oncology vaccines and drug delivery technologies reported that it mandated Transbiotech Biotechnology Research and Transfer Center to initiate testing its cellular anti-cancer ARM vaccine against deadly pancreatic cancer (Press release, Defence Therapeutics, JUN 6, 2023, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=defence-begins-testing-its-arm-vaccine-against-pancreatic-cancer [SID1234632509]).
Using the AccumTM technology, Defence developed a ground-breaking approach to convert the innate suppressive mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into potent antigen presenting cells capable of mounting an effective anti-tumoral response against solid tumors. Defence tested this vaccine using various in vivo animal models including solid T-cell lymphoma and melanoma. The vaccine was consistently effective against these models and cured 80-100% of treated animals, whereby the tumor completely regressed.
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Based on these impressive data, Defence contracted Transbiotech Biotechnology Research and Transfer Center, to test the potency of its ARM vaccine in animals with pre-established pancreatic tumors. The study will consist of using the lysate of the Pan02 cell line (serving as a source of tumor antigens) mixed with the A1 dimer prior to in vitro pulsing MSCs. The final ARM vaccine will then be administered to allogeneic animals in combination with the anti-PD-1 immune-checkpoint inhibitor.
"This study should demonstrate the potency of Defence’s ARM vaccine at treating the deadly pancreatic cancer for which standard of care has failed and to confirm the versatility of this off-the-shelf universal vaccine. Therefore, developing a cancer vaccine capable of eradicating this disease will be a major leap in the global fight against cancer. A successful treatment of pancreatic cancer with the ARM vaccine would certainly widen the application of this therapy to other "hard to treat" cancers," says Mr. Plouffe, CEO and president of Defence.
TransBIOTech was founded in 1999 with the mandate to lead innovations and support Canadian biotech businesses. It provides access to state-of-the-art biotechnological expertise in life sciences to rapidly support and accomplish project goals in accordance with internationally recognized quality standards.
According to Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. For all stages combined, the 5-year survival rate is 12%.