VAXSEIN: towards a new vaccine against breast cancer

CONTEXT 

Breast cancer is a major health problem because it is difficult to diagnose at an early stage, which leads to high mortality. Representing nearly 15% of breast cancers, so-called « triple-negative » cancers are very aggressive cancers for which few preventive and therapeutic solutions are available.

DESCRIPTION 

To date, there is no vaccine to fight breast cancer. As for the developed vaccines (Gardasil® and Cervarix®) against the papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer, we have adopted the same approach to research. A team of researchers at the University of Franche-Comté has highlighted the etiological role of certain oncogenic virus strains that cause triple-negative breast cancers. From these, vaccines could be created for both prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. The aim would be to identify the presence of the oncogenic virus in young women. Vaccination would then be directed against characterized oncogenic strains of the virus. Similarly, in patients who have been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a vaccine could be used to slow the progression of the disease.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

• Nowadays, no vaccines against breast cancer are commercialized
• Development of vaccines with preventive and/or therapeutic effect
• Alternative to the currently used aggressive treatments such as radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

MARKETS & APPLICATIONS

Pharmaceutical :

• Prophylactic vaccination for young women
• Therapeutic treatment for triple-negative breast cancers

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

Identification of oncogenic virus strains that cause triple-negative breast cancers

RESEARCH TEAM

Laboratory "Agents Pathogènes et Inflammation" (API) University of Franche-Comté

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Patent application submitted the February 2nd, 2018

TARGET PARTNERSHIP

Patent licensing

CONTACT 
Daniel KIRCHHERR

Business Development Manager

+33 (0)7 76 16 66 90

daniel.kirchherr@sattge.fr