Australia, December 16, 2009
A new therapeutic cancer vaccine being trialled in Australia may give hope to patients at risk of inoperable lung and breast cancers.
Speaking at a pipeline briefing, medical director at Merck Serbono, Dr Michael Rasmussen, said the development of Stimuvax was based on the emerging therapeutic principle using the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
The pharmaceutical company has 30 projects in development and is investing more than 20 per cent of total revenue to discover new therapies.
Dr Rasmussen said cancer researchers are focusing on the development of new therapies that act on a combination of the tumor cell, the tumor environment and the immune system.
Among the key projects in later phases of clinical development are Erbitux (cetuximab), which has been indicated for non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer; and the integrin inhibitor Cilengitide, which is being developed for glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer with high mortality.
The company said its continuing focus will be on unmet medical needs including oncology, neurogenerative diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, fertility and endocrinology.
A new therapeutic cancer vaccine being trialled in Australia may give hope to patients at risk of inoperable lung and breast cancers.
Speaking at a pipeline briefing, medical director at Merck Serbono, Dr Michael Rasmussen, said the development of Stimuvax was based on the emerging therapeutic principle using the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
The pharmaceutical company has 30 projects in development and is investing more than 20 per cent of total revenue to discover new therapies.
Dr Rasmussen said cancer researchers are focusing on the development of new therapies that act on a combination of the tumor cell, the tumor environment and the immune system.
Among the key projects in later phases of clinical development are Erbitux (cetuximab), which has been indicated for non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer; and the integrin inhibitor Cilengitide, which is being developed for glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer with high mortality.
The company said its continuing focus will be on unmet medical needs including oncology, neurogenerative diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, fertility and endocrinology.
