Among the latest potential prostate cancer treatments and vaccines is Prostvac, a vaccine about to enter Phase 3 trials in the United Kingdom, representing the first prostate cancer vaccine to ever reach this stage in Europe. Prostvac is currently in trials in the United States and will be entering trials in 18 other countries along with the UK.
Prostvac, which was developed by Bavarian-Nordic Immunotherapeutics for men with advanced prostate cancer that has resisted hormone therapy, is a combination of the virus used in a smallpox vaccine and a strain of a virus (fowlpox) that causes diseases in poultry. Four human genes were then added to the DNA of these viruses.
Prostvac is considered to be a vaccine because it reportedly works by using these viruses to transport the human DNA to direct the immune system to fight cancer cells. In the Phase 3 trial in the UK, researchers will enroll about 30 patients to see how Prostvac meets this challenge.
During the trial, the patients will be given a series of seven injections over a five-month period. According to Dr. Reiner Laus, president of the vaccine’s manufacturer, Prostvac has milder side effects than other treatments for prostate cancer, and the vaccine will hopefully be licensed by 2015.
Prostvac, which was developed by Bavarian-Nordic Immunotherapeutics for men with advanced prostate cancer that has resisted hormone therapy, is a combination of the virus used in a smallpox vaccine and a strain of a virus (fowlpox) that causes diseases in poultry. Four human genes were then added to the DNA of these viruses.
Prostvac is considered to be a vaccine because it reportedly works by using these viruses to transport the human DNA to direct the immune system to fight cancer cells. In the Phase 3 trial in the UK, researchers will enroll about 30 patients to see how Prostvac meets this challenge.
During the trial, the patients will be given a series of seven injections over a five-month period. According to Dr. Reiner Laus, president of the vaccine’s manufacturer, Prostvac has milder side effects than other treatments for prostate cancer, and the vaccine will hopefully be licensed by 2015.
