Orgenesis strikes deal with Columbia University to develop Cellular Vaccination product platform

Orgenesis Inc (NASDAQ:ORGS), a developer of advanced cell therapies, has struck a deal with Columbia University under which it will fund research to develop a cellular vaccination product platform.

Columbia University has created a patented dual-vaccine – focusing on pancreatic, liver and bile duct cancers – that uses whole cancer cells as a source of antigens and the patient’s own immune cells.

READ: Orgenesis strikes collaboration, license deal for exosome technologies with ExcellaBio

Under the terms of the research pact, Orgenesis will receive an exclusive license on the technology developed at Columbia.

“There are very little treatment options for pancreatic, hepatic and cholangiocarcinoma cancers and this vaccine is promising because it complements the immune response and has a broad appeal because of the ease of administration and lack of significant side effects,” said Vered Caplan, CEO of Orgenesis, in a statement.  “Moreover, this technology can serve in the future as a platform to treat many types of solid tumors.”

This patented dual-vaccine design uses whole cancer cells as a source of antigens and the patient’s dendritic cells and macrophages to present the cancer antigens to the immune system.

Targeting the entire repertoire of tumor cell antigens leaves little or no possibility for cancer cells to escape the immune system’s response.

Orgenesis is a biotechnology company specializing in the development and manufacturing of technologies in the cell and gene therapy industry.

Orgenesis shares held steady at $4.73 in Monday morning trade.

Contact Ellen Kelleher at [email protected]

Story by ProactiveInvestors