Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotechnology company specializing in virus-based immunotherapies for cancer treatment, NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), a leader in IT, network, and AI technologies, and BostonGene Corporation (BostonGene), a prominent AI-based molecular and immune profiling firm, have announced an extension of their collaboration for the randomized Phase I/II trial of TG4050. TG4050 is an individualized therapeutic vaccine aimed at patients with head and neck cancers.
BostonGene joins forces with NEC and Transgene to continue conducting tumor molecular profiling and microenvironment analysis, as well as providing high-throughput sequencing services. This partnership with BostonGene ensures rapid turnaround of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, facilitating comprehensive profiling of patient immune contexture.
TG4050, a personalized immunotherapy designed to activate the immune system to generate a neoantigen-specific T-cell response for tumor cell recognition and destruction, is based on Transgene’s myvac® platform and utilizes NEC’s AI-driven Neoantigen Prediction System.
Dr. Alessandro Riva, Chairman and CEO of Transgene, commented, “Our collaboration with BostonGene has provided invaluable insights into patient phenotypes in the Phase I trial, aiding our understanding of patient baseline status and potential tumor micro-environment (TME) changes post-treatment.”
Masamitsu Kitase, Corporate SVP and Head of the Healthcare and Life Sciences Division at NEC Corporation, stated, “The combined expertise of Transgene, NEC, and BostonGene will continue to streamline the pipeline for timely delivery of patient-tailored vaccines and guide the development of personalized treatment options, enhancing the standard of care for head and neck cancer patients.”
Nathan Fowler, MD, Chief Medical Officer at BostonGene, added, “We are dedicated to supporting Transgene and NEC in advancing these clinical trials. Our molecular and immune profiling techniques provide comprehensive analysis, identifying key predictors of response to TG4050, thereby improving treatment outcomes.”
About myvac®: myvac® is a viral vector (MVA – Modified Vaccinia Ankara) based, individualized immunotherapy platform developed by Transgene for targeting solid tumors. It aims to stimulate the patient’s immune system to recognize and eliminate tumors using their own cancer-specific genetic mutations. Transgene combines bioengineering, digital transformation, vectorization expertise, and manufacturing capabilities. The platform has received “Investment for the Future” funding from Bpifrance. TG4050 marks the first myvac®-derived product in clinical trials.
About TG4050: TG4050 is an individualized immunotherapy for solid tumors based on Transgene’s myvac® technology and NEC’s AI and ML expertise. This virus-based therapeutic vaccine encodes patient-specific neoantigens identified and selected by NEC’s Neoantigen Prediction System. It aims to stimulate the patient’s immune system to recognize and eliminate tumor cells based on their unique neoantigens. TG4050 is developed and produced for each patient.
Initial immunological and clinical data from the ongoing Phase I trial in the adjuvant treatment of HPV-negative head and neck cancers, presented at various conferences in 2023, show promising results.
