Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Shows Interception Promise

A phase 1 clinical trial of mKRAS-VAX, an investigational vaccine targeting six common KRAS mutations, demonstrated safety and durable immune responses in 18 of 20 high-risk individuals for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The vaccine, developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, aims to intercept cancer before it develops by training the immune system to attack cells carrying mutant KRAS, which drives over 90% of PDACs. Over a median follow-up of 16.5 months, no participant developed pancreatic cancer, and exploratory analysis showed cyst reduction or resolution in 37.5% of vaccinated individuals versus 6.8% in an unvaccinated comparator group. The trial was not designed to prove clinical efficacy, and larger studies are planned. The findings were published in Cancer Discovery and funded by the United States — National Cancer Institute, the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, and a Stand Up to Cancer-Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research grant. Two senior authors hold equity in KC Pharmaceuticals, which licensed the vaccine technology from Johns Hopkins.