MaxiVAX and Minaris sign manufacturing deal for cell-based cancer immunotherapy
pharmafile | February 22, 2021 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Cancer, MaxiVAX, Minaris
MaxiVAX and Minaris Regenerative Medicine have entered into a manufacturing agreement for MVX-ONCO-2, a cell-based immunotherapy for the treatment of cancers such as chordoma, head and neck, and other solid tumours.
MaxiVAX is a private, Swiss clinical-stage biotech company developing novel anti-cancer vaccines, and Minaris is a contract development and manufacturing service provider for the cell and gene therapy industry.
The MVX-ONCO-2 therapy consists of two components: biocompatible capsules, loaded with a genetically modified cell-line that secretes a strong immune-booster GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage stimulating factor), and irradiated autologous patients’ tumour cells, isolated from patients which serve as tumour antigens. To induce an efficient anti-tumour response against the patients’ own tumour cells, the encapsulated GM-CSF secreting cells are implanted subcutaneously at the site of tumour-cell vaccination.
Minaris will be responsible for the GMP manufacturing, freezing, and shipping of the MVX-ONCO-2 capsules, which will be delivered to clinical sites, where the autologous patients’ tumour cells will also be processed.
The manufacturing agreement includes process development for scale-up and technology transfer, with the goal of supplying Phase II and III clinical studies initially in the EU, before branching out to the US. Services will be performed at Minaris’ European site in Ottobrunn, near Munich, Germany.
Dusan Kosijer, CEO of the European operations of Minaris, said: “We are excited to support MaxiVAX with their innovative product. Their unique approach on cancer immunotherapies addresses a significant unmet medical need for patients with difficult-to-treat tumours.”
Julien Grogg, Vice President of Technology of MaxiVAX, also commented: “Our mission is to develop life changing therapies. It can only be achieved if we manage to effectively deliver such therapies to our patients.
“In Minaris, we have found a partner that will not only help us in this aspect, but also in developing integrated manufacturing solutions and provide the appropriate infrastructure to support our future commercial production both in the US and in Europe.”
Darcy Jimenez
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