Individualized neoantigen therapies: exploring one medicine for one patient
Scientists are researching new ways to help train the immune system to fight cancer
April 13, 2023
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Over the past decade, immunotherapy has transformed our understanding of how the immune system can be used to help fight some types of cancer. However, for the last 50 years, scientists have been researching how we could potentially use vaccines to treat cancer — another investigational approach to harness the immune system to help recognize and destroy cancer cells — with little success.
Now we’re looking at a potential therapy that is building upon the learnings of immunotherapy trials from the past and incorporating that into an individualized cancer approach that’s specific to a patient’s own tumor. Researchers are currently exploring the potential of individualized neoantigen therapies to help fight cancer.
Cancer research is becoming more personalized
Cancer is a result of the body’s own cells undergoing mutations which create abnormal proteins in cancer cells, known as neoantigens, that are not usually seen in normal cells. These mutations are unique to each person’s tumor, so that’s one of the reasons why patients who have been diagnosed with the same type of cancer and who have received the same type of treatment may have different responses.
As the treatment of cancer continues to evolve and advance, researchers are focusing on more individualized approaches. This includes a new area of research into individualized neoantigen therapies that use information from a person’s tumor biopsy sample to help develop a therapy unique to their tumor’s mutations.
“This area of research has really captured our imagination of what’s possible in the development of cancer therapeutics.”
Dr. Jane Healy Vice president and head of oncology early development at MSD Research Laboratories
In collaboration with Moderna, we’re studying this area of research in an effort to advance more individualized approaches to help improve outcomes for people living with cancer.
Learn more about individualized neoantigen therapies
Proteins in space: taking our research to the final frontier
MSD Research Laboratories scientist Paul Reichert works with the International Space Station to drive innovation
June 29, 2022
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MSD Research Laboratories (MRL) is known for pushing the frontiers of science with its cutting-edge research. And MRL scientist Paul Reichert has taken that concept even further — to space!
Reichert was one of the first scientists in the pharmaceutical industry to propose studying protein crystallization under microgravity conditions, and his work continues today.
“We regularly use crystallization processes for our small molecule and small protein therapeutics. Our goal with these experiments is to identify crystallization processes for biologics for enhanced and simpler drug delivery,” explained Reichert.
Experimental conditions in microgravity are unique because without the force of Earth’s gravity, solutions have reduced convection currents, reduced sedimentation and reduced molecular motion, leading to higher-order crystals with higher purity and more uniform suspensions. Researchers have been able to apply this knowledge ‘on the ground’ by manipulating key variables to mimic those in microgravity, such as using rotational mixers to reduce sedimentation.
Paul Reichert (L) joins April Spinale and Raymond Polniak of the ISS National Laboratory, managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), to inspect the experiment
The latest MRL experiment blasted off to the International Space Station in December with astronaut Marc Vande Hei completing the experiment designed to study the effects of purity, mixing, diffusion and temperature on crystallization. Simultaneously, back on Earth, a research team was doing a control experiment in a laboratory for comparison. Reichert is now working alongside other MRL scientists to analyze and compare the results of the experiment run in space against the ground experiment done under the same conditions with gravity.
“I feel so fortunate to have been able to push the frontiers of science with amazing scientists here at MSD and at the ISS National Laboratory. It’s been the highlight of my career.”
Paul Reichert Associate principal scientist, structural chemistry
Our commitment to HIV treatments and prevention through the years
We continue to work at the forefront of the fight against HIV
March 15, 2021
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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) continues to be a major public health threat. The virus can lead to AIDS.
Since 1985, our company has been engaged in research and development efforts in the prevention and treatment of HIV. Over the years, our scientists have made significant discoveries that changed the way HIV is treated. Here are some historical moments highlighting this effort:
In 1982, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first used the term “AIDS,” or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, to describe the clinical syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
In the mid-1980s, MSD launched its HIV research program in response to what it perceived as a potential epidemic. Our scientists were among the first to discover and develop medicines for the treatment of HIV.
We were the first to publish the crystal structure of HIV protease, which is an enzyme which is essential for virus infectivity.
In 1992, MSD joined other pharmaceutical companies to create the Inter-Company Collaboration for AIDS Drug Development to research HIV treatments. By 1993, we were undertaking the biggest research program in our history, deploying more scientists to investigate AIDS than any other disease and testing tens of thousands of compounds.
The HIV/AIDS community continued to speak out for action. In 1995, Linda Distlerath, former executive director, Public Policy and MSD Research Laboratories Public Affairs, spent time reading letters sent from thousands of AIDS patients and activists urging MSD to produce a treatment for the disease quickly.
After years of study and development, MSD developed one of the first protease inhibitors. In 1995, prior to FDA approval, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, patients and HIV advocacy groups, MSD offered a program that made its new HIV treatment available at no cost to selective patients before it was commercially available.
In 1996, the HIV treatment received FDA approval in a record-setting 42 days. It was an important early achievement in making HIV a survivable infection.
In 2012, The NAMES Project Foundation – with support from MSD – launched Call My Name national tour to bring attention to the distressing trajectory of the HIV epidemic in the Black communities in the U.S. The tour included creating new panels for the AIDS memorial quilt and educational workshops in 10 high-prevalence cities.
In 2021, we entered into an agreement with Gilead to work together in the global HIV community in the fight against HIV.
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