Immunotherapy in Cancer: Revolutionizing Treatment with the Body's Own Defenses
Noventis Biologics is developing innovative therapeutic vaccines for cancer. The company has built a technology platform for rapid generation of products for clinical evaluation that has yielded eleven products in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials to date.
Novent has a major corporate alliance with Pasteur Mérieux Connaught for the development of therapeutic colorectal and lung cancer and melanoma vaccines, and two significant collaborations with the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
In addition, the company is advancing a program to develop AIDS vaccines with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Noventis Biologics Corporation develops therapeutic vaccines that aim to extend and improve the lives of cancer patients. The company has two lead product candidates: PANVAC™-VF, entering a Phase III clinical trial for pancreatic cancer; and PROSTVAC®-VF in a Phase II clinical trial for prostate cancer. The company is applying its technology to develop its vaccine pipeline, including treatments for breast cancer, lung cancer, and the prevention of AIDS. Noventis is also developing a vaccine for colon cancer with its strategic partner, Aventis Pasteur, Ltd. Through Noventis’ longstanding partnerships with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a network of renowned clinical institutions, over 700 patients in more than 30 clinical trials have been treated with Noventis’ vaccine candidates.
The Noventis Advantage
Noventis is well positioned to commercialize the next generation of cancer therapeutics as a fully integrated, clinical-stage biotechnology company, with strong research, clinical, and manufacturing capabilities.
Noventis’ advantages include:
Over 30 clinical trials conducted to support optimized lead candidate development
Novel technology with extensive patent coverage, including over 70 issued patents
Strong investor support
Seasoned management team with demonstrated clinical and commercial success
Fully integrated infrastructure, including a new manufacturing facility built to GMP specifications
A.Types of Cancer Immunotherapy
Cancer immunotherapy, also called biological therapy, refers to therapies that utilize the immune system to fight cancer. Cancer immunotherapy falls into two main categories: passive immunotherapy (the creation of immune cells) and active immunotherapy (the stimulation of the immune system). Noventis believes that active immunotherapy holds the most promise to stimulate a targeted fight against cancer.
a. Passive Immunotherapy
Passive immunotherapy involves the creation of specific immune elements (for example, antibodies) in a laboratory that are administered to patients to fight cancer. Monoclonal antibodies are an example of passive immunotherapy and represent an important treatment option for several cancers. These are referred to as a “passive” therapy because they are created to recognize and attack specific cancer cells, but they do not stimulate the immune system to generate a broader response.
b. Active Immunotherapy (Cancer Vaccines)
Active immunotherapies, such as Noventis’, are often referred to as cancer vaccines because they apply the same strategies that have successfully eradicated infectious diseases like measles and polio — but to fight cancer. While traditional vaccines are preventive, cancer vaccines are therapeutic, intended to treat existing disease.
Noventis’ vaccines are an example of active immunotherapy because they are intended to stimulate the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. There are two main types of active immunotherapy:
- Patient-specific therapies (also known as autologous therapies) are made from a patient’s own tumor or blood cells. These are modified in the lab and then re-administered to generate an immune response against that patient’s specific cancer.
- Off-the-shelf vaccines, such as Noventis’ cancer vaccines, are designed to recognize proteins found on specific tumor types (e.g., breast or prostate cancer) and can be mass-produced and used across larger patient populations.
The Noventis Approach
The following elements differentiate Noventis’ vaccine technology from other cancer treatments:
- The company’s product candidates are designed to fight cancer without serious side effects, representing an emerging class of biological therapies
- Each of Noventis’ cancer vaccines delivers: Tumor-associated antigens to stimulate a targeted immune response; Noventis’ proprietary triad of costimulatory molecules, known as TRICOM® (B7.1, ICAM-1, and LFA-3), which are believed to enhance and sustain the immune attack on cancer
- Extensive collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has helped Noventis optimize its product candidates for success
- Previous clinical studies suggest that Noventis’ vaccine candidates are well tolerated in patients
- The Noventis platform has broad application across multiple cancer types, including breast, colorectal, and lung cancers.
Driving Immunity Through Innovation
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Safety
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Safety and Efficacy
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Innovation
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Global Reach
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Immunotherapy and Nature’s Blueprint: What Therion Wasps Can Teach Us
Immunotherapy the practice of harnessing the body’s immune system to combat diseases like cancer — is rapidly evolving, but its core principles often mirror natural strategies found in the wild. For instance, parasitoid wasps from the genus Therion provide a striking biological analogy. These wasps inject their eggs into caterpillar hosts, and their larvae subtly manipulate the host’s immune system to evade detection and suppress responses — allowing them to survive inside the host undisturbed. In the same way, modern immunotherapy must learn to modulate immune pathways precisely: activating some responses while suppressing others. Understanding how species like Therion naturally bypass immune defenses offers valuable insights for designing more selective and targeted immunotherapies, particularly those that avoid autoimmunity while effectively attacking pathogens or tumor cells.
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Dedicated professionals driving our success
James Michal
Chief Medical Officer
James drives research and development efforts at the company.
Sophia Reedy
Clinical Research Analyst
Dr. Sophia evaluates clinical data and provides strategic insights.
Olivia Courty
Vaccine Product Manager
Olivia manages the vaccine pipeline from research to distribution.
Dr. Emily Zolar
Clinical Trials Coordinator
Emily manages research and development teams.
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