Precision Biologics announces publication of a new review article in Expert Review of Vaccines, September 1st, 2024.

Precision Biologics announces that a review, entitled “Generation of the therapeutic monoclonal antibody NEO-201, derived from a cancer vaccine, which targets human malignancies and immune suppressor cells“, has been published on Expert Review of Vaccines on September 1st, 2024.

NEO-201 is our lead monoclonal antibody (mAb). The NEO-201 features described in this review are:

• The generation of NEO-201 from the Hollinshead cancer vaccine platform
• The characterization of the antigen recognized by NEO-201
• The ability of NEO-201 to bind and mediate the killing of cancer cells and immunosuppressive cells (gMDSCs and Tregs) through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)
• NEO-201 preclinical and clinical toxicity and efficacy
• The rationale to use NEO-201 in combination with cancer vaccines to synergize treatment efficacy

One of the reasons for the limited clinical activity of cancer vaccines as monotherapy is the ability of cancer cells to secrete soluble factors and immunosuppressive cytokines, as well as to induce the increase of percentage of immunosuppressive cells, such as granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (gMDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), systemically and in the tumor microenvironment  (TME).

These factors lead to the inhibition of the antitumoral activity of immune system components stimulated by cancer vaccines, including antibodies, T cells, NK cells. A potential strategy to overcome this issue may be the combination of cancer vaccines with NEO-201.

NEO-201 can target and eliminate circulating Tregs and gMDSCs and may block the migration and accumulation of these cells in the TME. The capacity of NEO-201 to mediate the killing of human cancer cells and immunosuppressive cells expressing core 1 and/or extended core 1 O-glycans could allow cancer vaccines to stimulate a robust and durable immune adaptive response against cancer, improving their efficacy and the clinical response to immunotherapy in patients with several types of solid tumors.