There is a great deal of unmet need in the effective treatment of numerous types of cancer, as long-term survival rates are still rather poor for a number of cancers.  There is a strong need for more effective therapies that will extend survival, with potential for new immunostimulatory therapies and other biologics to stabilize cancer and prevent metastasis.

Cancer vaccines belong to a class of therapies known as immunotherapies. Immunotherapy-based treatments are highly specified anti-tumor agents. Their aim is to provoke a highly specific response against malignant cells, either by complement activation or through the stimulation of immune-activator cells.
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have the potential to strengthen the body’s natural defenses against cancers that have already developed. These vaccines may prevent the further growth of existing cancers, prevent recurrence of treated cancers, or kill cancer cells not killed by other treatments.

According to GLOBOCAN, over twelve billion people worldwide were believed to have cancer in 2008 and in the same year, cancer accounted for over 7.5 million deaths worldwide. Furthermore, according to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 4 deaths in the US can be attributed to cancer. With such a staggering number of people affected by cancer, clinical development of therapies that may have a beneficial impact on outcomes is critical.