Cleveland Clinic Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Innovation Issued European Patent

The European Patent Office has issued and published the first European patent for a novel ovarian cancer vaccine technology.  This technology was developed at Cleveland Clinic and California-based Anixa Biosciences, Inc.

The patent is titled "Ovarian Cancer Vaccines," and the inventors are Drs. Vincent K. Tuohy, Suparna Mazumder, and Justin M. Johnson of Cleveland Clinic, based in Ohio. Anixa is the worldwide licensee.   

Cleveland Clinic researchers have demonstrated in animal models that vaccination against the extracellular domain of anti-Mullerian hormone receptor II (AMHR2-ED) significantly inhibits tumor growth and enhances overall survival.  The study results indicated that vaccinating women against AMHR2-ED could provide safe and effective preemptive immunity against epithelial ovarian carcinoma, the most common form of ovarian cancer.

This ovarian cancer vaccine targets the AMHR2-ED protein expressed only in the ovaries and only in pre-menopausal women.

Dr. Amit Kumar, President, and CEO of Anixa, stated in a press release published on March 12, 2021, "This ovarian cancer vaccine has the potential to eliminate one of the deadliest malignancies in women.  Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed after it has reached Stage 3 or 4, and when it is difficult to treat effectively." 

"Five-year survival statistics for ovarian cancer are poor, so if this vaccine can eliminate the onset of ovarian cancer, the impact for women and our healthcare system will be tremendous."

'By developing vaccines that target alpha-lactalbumin and AMHR2-ED, we feel the immune system can destroy breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells, respectively, as they arise and ultimately prevent tumors from forming.'

Anixa Biosciences, Inc. is a publicly-traded biotechnology company developing several programs addressing cancer and infectious disease.