German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Genetic Immunity have joined hands to develop a DNA-based vaccine to treat Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that causes cervical cancer and other cancers of the anus, penis, vulva, vagina and oropharynx.
Led by Lutz Gissmann, the Division of Genome Modifications and Carcinogenesis set to begin assessing the therapeutic efficacy of the DKFZ's HPV-specific plasmid DNA as part of the preclinical research program.
The team would use Genetic Immunity's nanomedicine formulation and Langerhans cell-targeting administration technologies for the research.
Genetic Immunity CEO Julianna Lisziewicz said there is a need for cancer vaccine that can provide protection against existing diseases or conditions caused by HPV.
''Our goal is to provide protection against cancer for patients after the onset of sexual activity, after they might be exposed to HPV," Lisziewicz added.
The new collaboration will also find out whether HPV-specific memory T cells induced by Genetic Immunity's nanomedicine products will be able to protect against cancer after infection has occurred.
Lutz Gissmann said DKFZ found that Genetic Immunity technology is a new way to target the vaccine DNA into the nucleus of the Langerhans cells.
''We believe that it will provide a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy," Gissmann added.
