Genetic Technology News

摘要

Crucell Gets OK for Malaria Vaccine Clinical; Biomira Cancer Vaccine Begins Phase III Trial; Amorcyte Heart Cell Therapy Trial; SemBioSys' Plant-Produced Insulin Approval Plan; GTN Strategic Partners; Some Important Patents for You ToCheck; GENVEC'SPANCREATIC CANCER GENE THERAPY PROMISING: GenVec Inc. is encouraged by the initial interim analysis of survival data from its ongoing phase II/III clinical trial of TNFerade in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (GTN3/31/06). An independent data safety monitoring board (DMSB) made the analysis. TNFerade is an adenovector containing the gene for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa), a potent cytokine that stimulates an immune response against the tumor. When injected directly into tumors, the vectors transform tumor cells so that they generate TNFa. Pancreatic cancer is the lead indication for the candidate, which GenVec is also developing for use in combination with radiation or chemotherapy for rectal cancer, metastatic melanoma, and other cancers.