NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[longfellow95]

Here's that link:-

https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2018/06/unconscionable-cleveland-clinic-tweets-misleading-scans-promoting-experimental-vaccine-for-incurable-brain-cancer/

We've discussed this before. Halfway through P2.
From my old post:-

And the news item states that they intend starting a randomised P3 in 2019. Though they could be pulling a flanker and actually intend going for AA on the basis of their P2, a la Merck...

Their short term data is impressive:-
OS12 91%, PFS6 96%.
But, these figures are from diagnosis.
So actually not so impressive.

Things fall down a bit on progression at 12 months.

Only 13 of 63 are still progression free.

So PFS6 of 96% goes down to PFS12 of 21%.

No idea how they are accounting for likely pseudo-progression.

They had quite an old age median of 60, but only accepted those who had a gross total resection.

https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/05/21/1509287/0/en/MimiVax-Announces-Positive-Interim-Results-from-Phase-II-Trial-of-SurVaxM-Immunotherapy-for-the-Treatment-of-Newly-Diagnosed-Glioblastoma.html

I've recommended Health News Review before. Excellent at cutting through the hype from researchers, sponsors, and reporters.

The two scans are compared. They are not exactly the same cross section. And the first one was before surgery and chemorad, so you would expect the tumor to disappear!
So he's done about as good as a youngish, methylated patient whose had a GTR, would be expected to, with or without a vaccine.
He's gone 'almost 18 months since diagnosis' so if the trial measures from randomisation, he's probably had 14 months PFS.
Good but not unusual. And they would hardly have picked a patient who was doing badly for this promo story.
If you look at the figures you will see that 75% of patients progressed between 6 and 12 months. This patient is one of a small minority on this trial who were progression free after a year. That really is SOC territory, and nowt to write home about.

If I'm right, this vaccine was first developed in Cuba during their cultural isolation 20 or 30 years ago, before being picked up by Roswell Park!

Health News Review also covered the lady canoeist who recovered from breast cancer. And as they pointed out that was also misleadingly reported.

So no imminent breakout competition; not from these two anyway.