Immunotherapies are being researched and developed worldwide as innovative methods for treating cancer. Medigene’s immunotherapies are based on targeted strengthening of the immune system, using the body’s own defence mechanisms, and are currently being tested in clinical trials for the benefit of critically ill patients. We are working on making the body’s own T cells usable in fighting serious diseases.
In spring 2015, Medigene made progress in terms of an important development stage and launched its first own clinical trial with its DC vaccines. Together with the current academically-led clinical trials, Medigene is set to obtain important findings and further data on the clinical application and safety of active immunotherapy. Additionally, the Company prepares the start of a clinical TCR study to be initiated in 2016 as part of a consortium with academic partners.
Medigene is working on three complementary personalised immunotherapeutic strategies to treat various types of cancer in different stages. The focus is always on T cells. These white blood cells are tasked with identifying and attacking pathogens. However, they often fail to detect cancer cells. Medigene’s immunotherapies activate, prepare and “train” the patient’s own T cells in the targeted detection of tumour cells and their destruction. At the same time, any unwanted T cells, for example in several types of T cell leukaemia, can be identified and removed. This approach is aimed at facilitating effective, long-term treatment of diseases.
At Medigene, the focus is on developing personalised immunotherapies centred on different types of leukaemia. Following the Company’s first own clinical DC vaccines trial, further product candidates are to be included in trials.
Every innovative drug starts with the search for a new active pharmaceutical ingredient. Once potential product candidates for new drugs have been defined, they must be tested in mandatory preclinical and clinical studies for quality, safety and efficacy before they are approved for marketing by the medicines agencies. This process is completed in several stages.
As part of its non-core business, Medigene achieves sales with the drug Veregen®, which is marketed globally by partner distributor companies. In December 2015, Medigene sold EndoTAG®, an advanced drug candidate, to its existing licence partner SynCore. Medigene licensed another advanced drug candidate in 2014, RhuDex®, to the partner company Falk Pharma, which assumes the cost and responsibility for its further development.
Read more about drugs and drug candidates that are non-core business for Medigene:
Group Management's Discussion and Analysis 2015