Vaccine proves effective in preventing cancer

A clinical trial with NOUS-209 preventive vaccine has been shown to effectively stimulate the immune response in people with Lynch syndromea hereditary disease that significantly increases the risk of developing various types of tumorsespecially of the colon and endometrium, showing its potential to intercept cancer before it develops.

According to the company Nouscomwhich has developed NOUS-209, is an immunotherapy against cancer designed to induce T cell response against neoantigens present in tumors and precancerous lesions with microsatellite instability.

The results have been published in the journal ‘Nature Medicine’. In the phase 1b/2 clinical trial, NOUS-209 was administered to 45 people with Lynch syndrome, a condition that leads to up to 80 percent risk of developing colon cancer, in addition to an elevated risk of endometrial, urothelial, ovarian cancer and other types of tumors.

Thus, neoantigen-specific immune responses were observed after vaccination in 100% of evaluable participants, with induction of potent T-cell immunity. Furthermore, the immune response was durable and detectable at one year in 85 percent of participants.

“These findings highlight the great potential of NOUS-209 as a cancer interception strategy for people with Lynch syndrome,” highlighted the Spanish researcher. Eduardo Vilar-Sanchezwho is a professor of Clinical Cancer Prevention in the MD Anderson Cancer Center from the University of Texas and has led the study.

Induced T cells demonstrated direct tumor cell killing capacity ‘ex vivo’ and exhibited the desired effector memory phenotype, supporting long-term immune surveillance.

“The data show that T cells induced by NOUS-209 They persist, attack and effectively destroy tumor cells with microsatellite instability and promote long-term immune protection. The absence of advanced adenomas after treatment is particularly encouraging,” added Vilar-Sánchez.

NOUS-209 was well tolerated, with no serious treatment-related adverse effects. Furthermore, a lower frequency of precancerous lesions with microsatellite instability was observed and no new advanced adenomas were detected one year after treatment, providing clinical evidence of cancer interception.

“These data reinforce our confidence in the potential of NOUS-209 to stop cancer before it develops in high-risk people with Lynch syndrome,” he said. Elisa Scarselliscientific director of Nouscom.

The company will now continue with research to further develop the future vaccine: “We are committed to converting NOUS-209 into a clinical trial that allows registration to help transform lives and redefine the role of immunotherapy in oncology,” concluded Marina Udier, CEO of Nouscom.