Replies to post #215131 on Biotech Values

[Titan V]

Neoepitopes as cancer immunotherapy targets: key challenges and opportunities
https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/full/10.2217/imt-2016-0146

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From previous post:

Novel cancer vaccine encodes 20 neoepitopes on a single mRNA molecule to elicit a completely individualized immune response--

From earlier post in the chain:

Potential advantages of GENESIS™ with TRACE™ for use in murine models include robust and conformationally-native in vivo expression of difficult proteins, including GPCRs and receptors that function in multimeric form. Moreover, the consistent results obtained with these technologies in heterogeneous tissues support reliable intratumoral delivery of a wide variety of DNA-encodable therapeutics across multiple syngeneic, xenograft, and PDX models. Using these technologies, OncoSec has expressed more than fifty proteins in vivo, including multimers and structurally-complex fusion proteins, and no protein tested to date has failed to successfully express.

Disclosure: I am long ONCS.

[DewDiligence]

The neoantigen-vaccine arena is heating up. I fear that AMGN/ADXS, who have yet to start phase-1 (#msg-134670005) may be too late to the game.

[lasers]

They are several years away and with only a Phase1. They will need a P2B and P3 which will take several years.

[DewDiligence]

MRK, Moderna seek allogeneic cancer vaccine for KRAS mutations:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006100/en

Under the expanded agreement, Merck will be responsible for clinical development of mRNA-5671 and associated costs while Moderna will be responsible for clinical supply and associated costs. Following the completion of human proof-of-concept (hPOC) studies, Merck may opt-in on further development and commercialization of mRNA-5671 upon payment of an undisclosed fee to Moderna.

Following opt-in, the parties will share equally the global net profits and costs associated with mRNA-5671. As part of this agreement, the parties may also initiate and collaborate on other shared antigen mRNA cancer vaccines programs.

In addition, Merck will make a $125 million investment in Moderna in newly priced series H preferred equity.