GX-188E + imiquimod

GX-188E + imiquimod is a combination therapy under investigation for the treatment of HPV-associated cancers, particularly cervical cancer. GX-188E is a therapeutic DNA vaccine that encodes the E6 and E7 antigens of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, which are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases. The vaccine is designed to induce antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses by targeting dendritic cells, thereby promoting an immune response against HPV-infected or transformed cells[6]. Imiquimod is an immune response modifier that acts as a toll-like receptor 7 agonist; it stimulates both innate and adaptive immunity by inducing cytokine production (including interferon-alpha), leading to inflammatory cell infiltration and apoptosis in diseased tissue[5]. Imiquimod is approved for topical use in actinic keratosis, superficial basal cell carcinoma, and external genital/perianal warts but has been investigated off-label as an adjuvant to enhance local immune responses in HPV-related lesions. The combination aims to synergistically boost anti-tumor immunity through both systemic vaccination (GX-188E) and local immune activation (imiquimod).