PopVax Launches Personalised mRNA Cancer Vaccine Development Facility in Hyderabad

Hyderabad-based PopVax has launched the RNA Foundry, a facility for developing and manufacturing personalised cancer vaccines using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. The vaccines will be designed using genetic information obtained from sequencing individual patients' tumours. 

Cancer mutations differ from one patient to another. PopVax's approach is to identify these mutations through tumour sequencing and use the findings to prepare a vaccine specific to each patient.  

As per news reports, the company has received backing from the Gates Foundation, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, the US government agency BARDA and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. 

Technology Draws on Covid-19 Vaccine Development 

PopVax plans to use the technology and manufacturing processes developed for its mRNA Covid-19 vaccine candidate, PVX-001. The candidate has entered clinical trials in Australia. 

Messenger RNA carries instructions that help the immune system recognise specific targets. In cancer vaccines, these instructions are designed around mutations identified in a patient's tumour. The technology uses the same broad principle as several Covid-19 vaccines, but the targets are different. 

The company has also developed a vaccine-delivery system that it says can keep vaccines stable for more than nine months at temperatures of 2°C to 8°C. This is within the range of a regular refrigerator. 

Clinical Testing Remains Ahead 

Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines developed by US companies Moderna and Merck have shown efficacy against skin cancer in Phase III clinical trials. PopVax's vaccines, however, have not yet established similar results. 

The company expects to gather initial patient data through compassionate-use treatment involving a small number of patients across different countries. This information is expected to help prepare for clinical trials in the coming years. 

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Conclusion 

The RNA Foundry will undertake the design and production of patient-specific cancer vaccines in Hyderabad. PopVax's platform is at an early stage, with its clinical effectiveness yet to be established through trials. 

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