Breakthrough Cancer Vaccine Ready for Commercialization
In a significant boost to the medical field, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, SC, has announced that a revolutionary cancer vaccine developed by the institution’s startup, Leukogene Therapeutics Inc., is set for commercialization. This breakthrough stems from a growing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem within MUSC.
About Leukogene Therapeutics and the Cancer Vaccine
Founded twelve years ago, Leukogene Therapeutics has focused tirelessly on a singular mission: to translate groundbreaking ideas from academic labs into real-world applications that can benefit patients. Its cancer vaccine platform, designed to invigorate the immune system to combat cancer, could offer a novel treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and pancreatic cancer. Currently in the preclinical phase, Leukogene’s founder and chief scientific officer, Nathan Dolloff, Ph.D., who is also a researcher at the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, has predicted that with the right strategic partner, the vaccine could be ready for clinical trials within the next 18 months.
The existing treatments for AML and pancreatic cancer primarily consist of chemotherapy drugs, which often induce adverse side effects and may not significantly prolong a patient’s life. Unfortunately, novel immunotherapy drugs, despite their revolutionary effects in treating certain types of cancer, have shown limited effectiveness against AML and pancreatic cancers. Leukogene seeks to address this gap in treatment options with its new cancer vaccine. This therapeutic solution instructs immune cells to target specific proteins on cancer cells as if they were invasive antigens, thereby harnessing the innate strength of the body’s immune system.
Impressive Preliminary Results
The results from preclinical trials have generated considerable enthusiasm about the vaccine’s potential clinical applications. “We’ve seen some remarkable anti-tumor effects in the lab,” shared Dr. Dolloff. “And in some cases, we’re even curing mice in certain tumor models where that’s really difficult to do.”
Dr. Dolloff and his team are eager to bring this therapeutic solution to clinicians and patients as soon as they can. He shared, “Our product is safe and works incredibly well. We have the pathway to get it to patients, but our greatest challenge right now is funding.”
Expansion of MUSC’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Leukogene is not only significant because of its cancer vaccine innovation, it also represents a part of MUSC’s burgeoning innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Dr. Dolloff emphasized the vital role that entrepreneurship plays in academic institutions to ensure practical applications of lab innovations. MUSC has been fostering this innovation culture by nurturing partnerships and collaborations amongst researchers, an initiative that drew Dr. Dolloff to Charleston in 2014.
Leukogene Therapeutics Inc. garnered a small business grant from the National Cancer Institute in 2022, which, according to Dr. Dolloff, has since enabled the team to generate more data and confidence in their platform. “We’ve gone from an interesting concept with a little bit of data to something that is potentially paradigm-shifting with a lot of data to support it,” he stated.
The prospect of seeing their drug platform reach patients in the clinic is highly anticipated for the team. “That’s the reason we do this. Getting to the clinic and having an impact would be a major milestone for us,” Dr. Dolloff added.
He also acknowledged the foundational role of basic science in making their research possible and towards the development of new drugs and medical products. With MUSC fostering the convergence of fundamental science and commercialization, the opening of the Blue Sky Labs stands to be a pivotal step for institutions like Leukogene.
