Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Hemispherx Biopharma And UNMC Take On Pancreatic Cancer

By Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. | March 15, 2018

The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. are joining forces to take on pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly forms of cancer. In mouse model studies, Hemispherx’s immune-enhancing drug, Ampligen—an immune-enhancer TLR3 agonist—will be administered with a peptide vaccine developed by UNMC.

The study will test the capability of Ampligen to enhance immune responses when combined with a peptide vaccine developed by UNMC for MUC1-positive pancreatic cancer. MUC1, a tumor-associated antigen, is produced by many common, highly lethal cancers, including cancers of the colon, breast, ovary, lung and pancreas.

In the study, UNMC researchers will immunize mice with pancreatic tumors expressing MUC1. The mice will receive Ampligen in combination with the peptide vaccine, with subsequent immune checkpoint blockade. 

“A prior preclinical vaccine study at UNMC using Ampligen in combination with the checkpoint blockade yielded promising results,” said David Strayer, MD, chief scientific officer for Hemispherx. “The objective now is to expand this experimental vaccination approach using Ampligen and a more specific antigen in combination with the checkpoint blockade. We believe these studies may yield important insights.”

“We are working hard to discover better treatments for pancreatic cancer,” said Tony Hollingsworth, Ph.D., the Leon Professor of Cancer and director of pancreatic cancer research for UNMC. “We believe Ampligen is an agent that holds tremendous promise—not only for pancreatic cancer, but also for a variety of other cancers.”

(Source: Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.)


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

Lokavant’s Spectrum v15 uses AI to cut trial-feasibility modeling from weeks to minutes
Prime time for peptide-based drug discovery 
Why smaller, simpler molecular glues are gaining attention in drug discovery
Glass vial, pipette and woman scientist in laboratory for medical study, research or experiment. Test tube, dropper and professional female person with chemical liquid for pharmaceutical innovation
Unlocking ‘bench-to-bedside’ discoveries requires better data sharing and collaboration
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE