EMD 640744

EMD 640744 is an investigational peptide-based cancer vaccine originally developed by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. It consists of a cocktail of five synthetic short peptides (9- or 10-mers) derived from the protein survivin (BIRC5), an inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) family member that is highly overexpressed in most human cancers but rarely in normal adult tissues. These peptides are designed to bind to multiple HLA class I alleles (HLA-A1, HLA-A2, HLA-A3, HLA-A24, and HLA-B7) to elicit a broad cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against tumor cells. The vaccine is formulated with the adjuvant Montanide ISA 51 VG and administered via subcutaneous injection. Initially evaluated in Phase I clinical trials for advanced solid tumors and multiple myeloma, the vaccine's peptide components were later licensed to IMV (formerly Immunovaccine Inc.) for further development using their DepoVax platform (as DPX-Survivac), where it has progressed to Phase II trials for indications including ovarian cancer and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Other names

survivin peptide vaccinesurvivin-based vaccine