Details of new anticancer vaccine technology unveiled at vaccine symposium

French biotech company ERYtech Pharma is to present results from its original approach on anti- tumour vaccination at the 6th International Cancer Vaccine Symposium to be held in New York next week.

Results obtained from animal studies is said to confirm the efficiency of the Vaccin'ERYTM system.

This technology, patented by ERYtech Pharma, uses tumour antigens loaded red blood cells to specifically target and activate immune cells such as dentritic cells and macrophages in vivo to induce an anti- tumour response.

Dr Yann Godfrin, ceo and inventor of this concept, said: "We reach a significant step in the demonstration of this anticancer vaccine approach. It is an attractive method, which offers smart perspectives and it is also technically feasible."

Product manufacturing requires only two hours thanks to an industrial process. This is a technical and an economic advantage, which avoids complex and laborious manipulations of dendritic cells or macrophages, which are usually performed ex vivo.

"Based on these results, we are strongly considering co-developing anti-cancer vaccines with pharma or biotech partners who have different tumour antigens or adjuvants," said Pierre Olivier Goineau, coo of the company.

ERYtech Pharma's technology of entrapment inside red blood cells is not limited by the size nor the nature of tumour antigens. Adjuvants can also be entrapped to target intracellular receptors making them much more effective.

The symposium runs from 28 to 30 October.