Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) for immunotherapy of Her-2/neu positive cancers

Reference Number TO 01-00277

The Challenge

Her-2/neu over-expressing mamma carcinomas are susceptible for therapy with the therapeutic antibody trastuzumab ('Herceptin') targeting the Her-2/neu receptor. Besides the unchallenged advantages Herceptin has, severe side effects such as low white or red blood cell counts, diarrhea, and infec-tions when administered in combination with chemotherapy are reported. Additionally, the costs of Herceptin treatment is very high (3.000 € per month), the combination with chemotherapy doubles the costs.
Therefore, a safer and inexpensive application of the Her-2/neu strategy would be of high value.


	MVA F6 budding from chicken embryonic fibroblasts. Source: GSF, Munich


	Immunostaining of Her-2/neu antigen in human breast cancer. Source: Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Tampere University, Finland

The Technology

The invention discloses a tumor vaccine for immunotherapy of Her-2/neu over-expressing tumors. The Her-2/neu gene was inserted in the MVA strain F6 (derivative of MVA 572). The Her-2/neu sequence was inserted in the deletion III of MVA. As shown in mice models, immunization with MVA ex-pressing Her-2/neu induces a strong humoral (antibody), as well as a strong cellular (CTL) response to Her-2/neu.
Such response targets both, intra-cellular and extra-cellular parts of the Her-2/neu protein. So far, clinical data in human patients have not been collected.

Commercial Benefit
MVA Her-2/neu has the potential as a safe and efficient tumor vaccine for the therapy of Her-2/neu over expressing tumors.

Development Status
Besides convincing initial data from mouse immunization studies, questions addressing a better understanding of the molecular and immunological background and providing a rational basis to explain the in vivo immunogenicity of DC-delivered MVA vaccines has been worked out.

Patent Situation
A European patent has been granted (EP1188834). Applications in other countries have not been filed.

Commercial Opportunity
The technology is available for exclusive and non-exclusive licensing. Parties interested in a collaborative research and development opportunity are welcomed.

Relevant Publication
Kastenmuller et al. (2006), Virology 350, 276-288.