NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[Gus1212]

DCVax-Direct

DCVax-Direct — is designed for situations in which the tumors are inoperable — where it is not feasible or not desirable for patients to have their tumors surgically removed. This includes situations in which patients have multiple metastases, or for other reasons cannot have their tumors removed. Like DCVax-L, DCVax-Direct also incorporates the full set of tumor antigens — but it does so in situ in the tumor(s) in the patient’s body rather than at the manufacturing facility. With DCVax Direct, the fresh, new dendritic cells are partially matured in a special (patent-protected) way so as to be ready to pick up antigens directly from tumor tissue in the patient’s body, and also communicate the information about those antigens to other agents of the immune system, such as T cells. The partially matured dendritic cells are then injected directly into the patient’s tumor(s). There, the dendritic cells pick up the antigens in situ rather than picking up the antigens from lysate in a lab dish at the manufacturing facility, as is done with DCVax-L. After that, the dendritic cells in DCVax-Direct function similarly as in DCVax-L to mobilize the rest of the immune system.