ImmunoCellular Therapeutics ($IMUC) licenses mesothelin cancer antigen from Johns Hopkins

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics (OTCBB:IMUC) announced that they have entered into an agreement with Johns Hopkins University which sees the college grant an exclusive, worldwide license to intellectual property surrounding the tumor-associated antigen mesothelin.(The terms of the agreement were not disclosed).

Antigens are substances that cause the immune system to produce antibodies against it. Mesothelin is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

The company will employ this intellectual property in the development and commercialization of ICT-140, a multivalent, dendritic cell-based vaccine for the treatment of ovarian cancer, one of multiple tumor types in which mesothelin is over-expressed.

ICT-140 is designed to target cancer stem cells as well as daughter cells in ovarian cancer by targeting multiple different antigens including mesothelin, Her-2/neu, IL-13Rα2 and several other undisclosed antigens.

ImmunoCellular president and CEO Manish Singh said: "As we continue the development of a novel, dendritic cell-based vaccine for the treatment of ovarian cancer, this licensing agreement for mesothelin technology will allow us to ensure that we have the critical components for a successful vaccine.

"We look forward to the ongoing support of Dr. Jaffee and her colleagues at Johns Hopkins as we develop the vaccine. We expect to file an Investigative New Drug application for the vaccine in the fourth quarter of this year."

IMUC recently started a phase II trial of its lead product candidate, ICT-107, a dendritic cell-based vaccine targeting multiple tumor associated antigens for glioblastoma. We do know that NeoStem's PCT is working with IMUC as the "contract maanufacturer".

Earlier this month the company received a "notice of allowance" from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office for its patent relating to the targeting of cancer stem cells in the treatment of patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The patent, called “Cancer Stem Cell Antigen Vaccines and Methods”, covers various methods of using dendritic cells combined with antigens derived from glioblastoma cancer stem cells.

Daily Dose Conclusion: The IMUC P1 Glioblastoma data is promising. The data set is smalla nd single center but if replicated in Phase II this could be the makings of the next Dendreon at a deep value. Also keep an eye on Prima BioMed working in ovarian cancer, also a dendritic cell approach.

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Immunocellular ($IMUC) - Moving forward in Brain Cancer

IMUC is developing ICT-107, an autologous, dendritic cell-based vaccine (like Dendrion's Provenge) that works by activating a patient's immune system against specific tumor-associated antigens. This is accomplished by extracting dendritic cells from a patient, loading them with the antigens, and reintroducing them to the patient's body to trigger an immune response. It is still early days, but IMUC is targeting glioblastoma multiforme (aggressive brain cancer) with this product. Data from Phase 1 trials has been encouraging and the company is embarking on a P2 program. The company is also developing ICT-140: Dendritic cell-based vaccine for the treatment of ovarian cancer. This product will target multiple antigens present on cancer stem cells and daughter cells. Interesting because we have discussed Prima BioMed's dendritic approach in ovarian cancer too.

This is not new news, but its worthy of mention, according to a blurb we saw in Bio Century, IMUC announced in early December the company’s plans to raise capital in a follow-on offering with a goal to raise up to $13.8 million in cash (10 million at $1.40) with 1:1 share – warrant coverage.