Core Insights - CloudTop New Horizon (01952) announced the successful enrollment of the first patient in the global multi-center Phase I clinical trial of its universal on-demand tumor therapeutic vaccine EVM14 at NEXT Oncology Virginia in the U.S. This milestone follows the approval of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China, marking a significant step in synchronized clinical development in both countries [1][2] Company Summary - EVM14 is based on CloudTop's self-developed mRNA technology platform and targets five tumor-associated antigens (TAA), intended for treating various squamous cell carcinomas, including non-small cell lung squamous carcinoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [1] - The vaccine addresses significant unmet medical needs in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma, which has a large patient population but currently lacks satisfactory treatment options [1] - EVM14 offers advantages such as no HLA screening requirement, on-demand supply, lower production costs, and applicability to multiple tumor types, showcasing broad application prospects in cancer treatment [1] Clinical and Preclinical Insights - Preclinical results demonstrated EVM14's potential by inducing dose-dependent antigen-specific immune responses and significantly inhibiting tumor growth in multiple mouse models. It also showed the ability to induce immune memory, effectively reducing tumor recurrence [2] - The combination of EVM14 with immune checkpoint inhibitors has been shown to significantly enhance anti-tumor activity, supporting further exploration of combination therapies in clinical settings [2] - The lead researcher, Professor Lu Shun, emphasized the importance of tumor-associated antigen vaccines as a powerful complement to existing therapies, potentially reducing recurrence and aligning with global trends in cancer drug development [2] Industry Context - The mRNA field is experiencing a surge, with frequent strategic moves by global pharmaceutical companies. For instance, recent acquisitions include Bristol-Myers Squibb's $15 billion purchase of Orbital for its CAR-T therapy and RNA technology platform, and BioNTech's $1.25 billion acquisition of CureVac to integrate mRNA technology advantages [3] - The mRNA tumor vaccine market is projected to reach $40.651 billion under neutral scenarios, with universal vaccines expected to have a higher penetration rate than personalized products due to cost advantages [3] - EVM14 is positioned to lead in clinical development amidst intense industry competition, with a multi-center Phase I trial involving top institutions in both the U.S. and China focusing on the vaccine's safety and efficacy [3] Pipeline Highlights - EVM14 is just one highlight in CloudTop's mRNA pipeline, which also includes the autologous CAR-T project EVM18 expected to start clinical trials by the end of the year, the personalized tumor therapeutic vaccine EVM16 that has initiated its first human clinical trial in China, and the on-demand immune modulation vaccine EVM15 that has completed preclinical concept validation [4]
云顶新耀mRNA肿瘤疫苗EVM14接连突破：中国获批临床后，美国一期首患成功入组