A Sweedish pharmaceutical company recently announced it has seen positive results with a therapeutic cancer vaccine that could potentially be used in combination with other immuno-oncology drugs to treat metastatic malignant mesothelioma. The results of the clinical trials showed that more than half of the participants did not demonstrate disease progression, and none of the patients experienced unexpected safety issues which showed that the drug combinations were well-tolerated.
Drugmaker Ultimovacs ASA conducted the study on a group of 20 mesothelioma cancer patients who received a combination of the company’s UV1 cancer vaccine and pembrolizumab, PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor. This group of patients participated in the company’s Phase I study for the drug combination, which is designed to test the safety, tolerability, and initial signs of clinical response in patients treated with UV1 in combination with pembrolizumab.
Commenting on the study, Ultimovacs Chief Medical Officer released a statement saying, “The safety profile observed to date in this first cohort of the PD-L1 combination study is consistent with the promising safety profiles seen in our earlier Phase I trials. For the further development of our vaccine, it is important to demonstrate that UV1 can be combined with different classes of immunotherapies without compromising on safety.”
The company’s UV1 vaccine is a peptide-based vaccine that is meant to induce a specific T cell response against the universal cancer antigen telomerase. Pembrolizumab, on the other hand, improves the ability of immune cells to kill tumor cells and is a current standard-of-care therapy for malignant melanoma. Ultimovacs hopes that the combination of these two drugs can help prolong the life expectancy of those diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.
Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of lung cancer that commonly affects the thin linings of tissue surrounding vital organs such as the lungs and heart, as well as the abdominal cavity. The disease is directly linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once used in a variety of industrial, commercial, and military applications due to its heat and fire-resistant properties.
Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of innocent people were exposed to asbestos fibers before Congress finally took actions to effectively ban the sale and use of the substance. Even today, thousands of people a year receive a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis from the asbestos exposure they suffered during their lifetimes. Although nothing can undo the harm of a mesothelioma diagnosis, the law gives victims the right to file claims against negligent asbestos companies and hold them responsible for their indifference to public safety, as well as recover vital compensation for medical bills and lost wages.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment