Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), the oncology-focused development and commercialisation company, announce that a milestone has been reached following entry of Stimuvax into a global phase 3 trial in patients with unresectable stage 3 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Stimuvax is a liposomal peptide vaccine against the tumour-associated protein MUC1. The vaccine was developed by Biomira under a portfolio of patents licensed by CRT, following Cancer Research UK-funded investigations led by Prof Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou at Guy's Hospital, London.

Under the terms of the agreement with Biomira, CRT receives development-related milestones and royalties on sales, including a milestone following entry into phase 3 clinical trials. The large multinational phase 3 trial is being undertaken by Biomira's co-development partner, Merck KGaA, who is also responsible for the regulatory approval and commercialisation of Stimuvax in all territories apart from Canada. Merck KGaA additionally plans to investigate the use of Stimuvax to treat other types of cancer.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide with 1.2 million new cases occurring annually. It remains the leading cancer killer. Survival times for patients diagnosed with the disease are extremely poor. In the US, 80% of patients presenting with advanced disease will not survive 5 years and survival rates are considerably lower than this in many other parts of the world. NSCLC accounts for 80 per cent of total lung cancer cases and current standard treatments for lung cancer patients are surgery, platinum-based combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Compared with traditional treatment approaches, anti-cancer vaccines have the advantage that they are likely to be associated with relatively high tumour specificity and low patient toxicity together with prolonged activity. Furthermore, vaccines could potentially be used as a supplementary treatment and be administered in combination with existing cancer therapies.

Keith Blundy, COO of CRT, commented: "We are extremely pleased that Stimuvax, one of CRT's portfolio of more than 20 partnered agents in clinical development, has entered late-stage clinical trials. Development of targeted vaccines for therapeutic use is an exciting approach that could potentially offer new treatment options in some major cancer indications."