vaccinia melanoma cell lysate

Vaccinia Melanoma Cell Lysate (VMCL), branded as Cancuravax, is an experimental allogeneic oncolysate cancer vaccine and immunotherapy developed for the treatment of advanced Stage IV metastatic melanoma. Originally researched at the University of Adelaide's Discipline of Surgery and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, it is being commercialized by Cancuravax Pty Ltd. The vaccine is manufactured from the allogeneic melanoma cell line MM200, which is infected with vaccinia virus to produce a lysate containing viable vaccinia virus, membranous fragments, and melanoma-associated antigens (including ganglioside GD3 and DR antigens), but no intact nuclei. Administered via repeated intradermal injections, VMCL works by stimulating or resetting the patient's immune response against melanoma cells. Clinical trials have reported complete response rates of approximately 17%, clinically useful responses in about 78% of patients, and long-term survival exceeding 10 to 21 years in some patients, with minimal to no toxicity.

Brand names

Cancuravax

Other names

VMCL-vaxvaccinia melanoma cell lysatesvaccinia virus-induced melanoma cell lysatesvaccinia virus-infected allogeneic melanoma cell lysate