NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

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King's College Hospital lead on DCVax-L study

[Please sticky this post, DD courtesy of Kap 10Jak]

28 Oct 2015
ANNOUNCEMENT
Researchers at King's College Hospital London have led the European effort in the clinical evaluation of a novel immune therapy-based approach for the post surgical treatment of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive of human brain tumour type, with an incidence rate of 2,200 per year in the UK. The Phase III study, led by Professor Keyoumars Ashkan in King’s Department of Neurosurgery and sponsored by Northwest Biotherapeutics (USA), is a multi-centre international clinical trial assessing the efficacy of DCVax-L.

DCVax-L is a personalised vaccination-based therapy that utilises an autologous tumour-lysate-loaded dendritic cell (DC). It is the first drug to be given the designation of a 'Promising Innovative Medicince' by the Department of Health, placing it on the path to Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) in UK.

ECMC funding supports the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) component of the CTU at the Biomedical Research Centre. Professor Farzin Farzaneh leads the CGT arm of the project that plays a key role in facilitating the delivery of DCVax-L to patients in the UK.

The extensive expertise of this Unit in the procurement of tissue and the manufacture of cell and gene therapy based products under Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP), has been covered by licenses awarded by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).

Detailed negotiations are now underway to build on a contract (>£2M per annum) for the CTU to serve as a manufacturing hub for the production of DCVax-L and its broader use at multiple other facilities in UK and other European Centres. -- http://www.ecmcnetwork.org.uk/news/announcement/kings-college-hospital-lead-dcvas-l-study