INO-5150 is an investigational cancer vaccine being developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals as a possible treatment for prostate cancer.
A dual antigen, synthetic DNA vaccine, it is produced based on the genetic sequences of both human and primate prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMA) and prostate-specific antigens (PSA) to help the body recognize cancer cells as foreign.
How INO-5150 works
INO-5150 vaccine targets both the PSMA and PSA antigens, which are present at high levels in the majority of prostate cancer cells.
Upon vaccine administration, DNA in both the PSA and PSMA is designed to translate into protein and activate the immune system. That activation mounts a strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL, or a “cell killing” T-cell) response against tumor cells expressing PSA and PSMA. It is intended that this will result in both the elimination of the cancerous cells and the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation.
INO-5150 in clinical trials
The safety, tolerability, dosing, and efficacy of INO-5150 alone or in combination with INO-9012 to treat prostate cancer that has returned after surgery was evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT02514213).
Study results were presented at a poster session at the European Society of Medical Oncology 2017 Congress. They showed that INO-5150 injected into muscle tissue induced a T-cell response against both PSMA and PSA antigens in 60 percent of the study’s 62 patients with recurrent prostate cancer.
Treatment also was seen to likely delay cancer progression, as assessed through PSA doubling time, or the amount of time it takes for PSA levels to double. Preliminary data also suggested PSA stabilization in some patients, trial researchers reported.
Results were also published in a recent edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Other details
INO-5150, alone or in combination with INO-9012, was found to be well-tolerated and safe in the trial, with the most common adverse events being injection site pain, swelling, and redness.
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