Activartis Receives Orphan Drug Designation for its Cancer Immune Therapy AV0113
![](/46/pdcnewsitem/03/20/32/bhQqvMZYYRdw35E.png)
The European Medicines Agency recently awarded the Austrian biotech company Activartis an Orphan Drug Designation for its innovative Cancer Immune Therapy AV0113
Vienna, Austria, March 7, 2013 / B3C newswire / - The European Medicines Agency recently awarded the Austrian biotech company ctivartis an Orphan Drug Designation for its innovative Cancer Immune Therapy AV0113. The Orphan Drug Designation applies specifically to the use of AV0113 for the treatment of glioma, a type of brain tumour, which afflicts around one in 10.000 people in the EU. The term Orphan Disease refers to rare diseases which do not attract much interest in the way of research and development and thus for which there are no appropriate treatments available.
Activartis’ AV0113 Cancer Immune Therapy can basically be used to fight every type of cancer. The therapeutic technology is based on a patented procedure in which a cancer patient’s immune system is primed to fight the tumour and eventually control its growth. This is based on the use of Dendritic Cells, the key regulatory elements of the immune system, that are just as the tumour tissue derived from the patient.
Active cancer immune therapy based on Dendritic Cells
AV0113 activates the patient’s immune system, with tumour cells being identified on the basis of their antigens and destroyed. The therapy makes use of elements and mechanisms of the immune system and gets to work where these fail. As tumour cells are the body’s own tissue, the immune system normally doesn’t identify them as dangerous. Activartis’ AV0113 Cancer Immune Therapy “tricks” Dendritic Cells, and onsequently a cancer patient’s immune system, into doing the right thing, i.e. to perceive the tumour as a threat and to trigger adequate defence mechanisms.
The Dendritic Cells are charged with tumour-derived antigens, determinants that distinguish a tumour cell from a normal cell. These antigens are processed by the Dendritic Cell and shuttled to the cell surface in order to present them to T-cells. This, however, is not sufficient to prime an immune response against the tumour antigens. The “trick” referred to above is contacting Dendritic Cells with a microbial danger signal. Certain molecules, that are present in microorganisms but not in higher organisms signal the Dendritic Cell the presence of a microorganism in its surroundings and hence danger to the organism.
As tumour cells originate from a cancer patient’s normal cells, they do not provide such danger molecules for recognition by the Dendritic Cell. The critical and unique part of Activartis’ AV0113 technology is exposing tumour antigen-charged Dendritic Cells to one of these danger molecules: Lipopolysaccharides, the bacterial endotoxins. This causes the Dendritic Cell to assume a potently immune stimulatory and
pro-inflammatory mode of action. Upon returning these Dendritic Cells to the patient they activate tumour-specific T-cells, most importantly the so-called Cytotoxic T-cells, which become enabled to recognise and destroy tumour cells
Related News
-
News Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug receives approval from US FDA
After facing several hurdles on its path to approval last year, Eli Lilly’s donanemab treatment for early Alzheimer’s, brand name Kisunla, received US FDA approval this past week. It is the second therapy for slowing the progression of Alzh... -
News This week in GLP-1 drug headlines: Manufacturing investment and new market launches
As drugmakers race to put their own GLP-1 drug products forward as the next biggest thing in weight-loss, current products are making numerous headlines this week with a number of new developments in their commercialisation and approval. Discover the l... -
News Women in Pharma: Regulating equity across regional borders
In our monthly series focusing on women in the pharmaceutical industry, we interview leading experts in the pharmaceutical supply and value chain to discuss the importance of gender diversity in healthcare, the workplace, and beyond. -
News Viral marketing for B2B pharma businesses: a CPHI Online case study
Discover how a Chinese chemical manufacturing company went viral on TikTok, and what their viral success means for the future of B2B digital marketing for the wider pharmaceutical industry and supply chain. -
News New Aurigene biologics facility opens in Hyderabad, India
Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Ltd. have opened a biologics facility in Hyderabad, India in a biocluster known as Genome Valley. -
News Novo Nordisk launches 'Power of Wegovy' national campaign
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk have launched a new national campaign – The Power of Wegovy – that aims to educate those living with obesity on their blockbuster drug Wegovy throughout the United States. -
News Women in Pharma Anniversary: Celebrating Our Heroines of Pharma
Our Women in Pharma interview series is approaching its 1-year anniversary this month, and to celebrate, we are highlighting the Heroines of Pharma that our very own Women in Pharma admire. -
News Sanofi gains rare disease therapy in acquisition of Inhibrx for US$1.7 billion
Sanofi completed the acquisition of the clinical-stage biotech company Inhibrx in late May 2024 after settling on a US$1.7 billion buyout. The acquisition brings with it a rare disease therapy to bollster Sanofi's pipeline.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance