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The randomized controlled pivotal phase 3 study evaluated efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant complex biologic, Leukocyte Interleukin Injection (LI), administered for 3 consecutive weeks pre-surgery, in treatment naïve resectable locally advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and soft palate. Randomization 3:1:3 to LI+/-CIZ (cyclophosphamide, indomethacin, and zinc)+SOC, or SOC (standard of care) alone. LI-treated patients received 400 IU (as interleukin-2 equivalent; 200 IU peritumorally, 200 IU perilymphatically) sequentially, daily 5 days/week for 3 weeks before surgery. All subjects were to receive SOC. Post-surgery, patients with low risk for recurrence were to receive radiotherapy, while those with high risk received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Median follow-up was 56 months. There were 923 ITT (Intent-to-Treat) subjects (380 ITT low-risk and 467 ITT high-risk). Pre-surgery objective early response (45 objective early responders; 5 complete responses [CRs], 40 partial responses [PRs], confirmed by pathology at surgery. LI (+/− CIZ) had 8.5% objective early responders (45/529 ITT) and 16% objective early responders (34/212 ITT low-risk) vs. no reported SOC objective early responders (0/394 ITT). Objective early responders significantly lowered death rate to 22.2% (ITT LI-treated), 12.5% (ITT low-risk LI + CIZ + SOC), while the ITT low-risk SOC death rate was 48.7%. Thus, objective early response impacted overall survival (OS); proportional hazard ratios were 0.348 (95% CI: 0.152–0.801) for ITT low-risk LI-treated, 0.246 (95% CI: 0.077–0.787) for ITT low-risk LI + CIZ + SOC. ITT low-risk LI + CIZ + SOC demonstrated significant OS advantage vs. ITT low-risk SOC (unstratified log-rank p = 0.048; Cox hazard ratio = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.48–0.95, Wald p = 0.024 [controlling for tumor stage, tumor location, and geographic region]). Absolute OS advantage increased over time for ITT low-risk (LI + CIZ + SOC)-treated vs. ITT low-risk SOC: reaching 14.1% (62.7% vs. 48.6%) at 60 months, with 46.5 months median OS advantage (101.7 months vs. 55.2 months), respectively. Quality of life benefit for complete responders sustained for >3 years post LI treatment. Percent treatment-emergent adverse events were comparable among all treated groups. No excess safety issues were reported for LI over SOC alone post-surgery. NCT01265849, EUDRA:2010-019952-35.

Influenza A viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a need for alternative or adjunct therapies, as resistance to currently used antiviral drugs is emerging rapidly. We tested ligand epitope antigen presentation system (LEAPS) technology as a new immune-based treatment for influenza virus infection in a mouse model. Influenza-J-LEAPS peptides were synthesized by conjugating the binding ligand derived from the β2-microglobulin chain of the human MHC class I molecule (J-LEAPS) with 15 to 30 amino acid-long peptides derived from influenza virus NP, M, or HA proteins. DCs were stimulated with influenza-J-LEAPS peptides (influenza-J-LEAPS) and injected intravenously into infected mice. Antigen-specific LEAPS-stimulated DCs were effective in reducing influenza virus replication in the lungs and enhancing survival of infected animals. Additionally, they augmented influenza-specific T cell responses in the lungs and reduced the severity of disease by limiting excessive cytokine responses, which are known to contribute to morbidity and mortality following influenza virus infection. Our data demonstrate that influenza-J-LEAPS-pulsed DCs reduce virus replication in the lungs, enhance survival, and modulate the protective immune responses that eliminate the virus while preventing excessive cytokines that could injure the host. This approach shows promise as an adjunct to antiviral treatment of influenza virus infections.

The way in which the US government funds vaccine research must be reassessed to provide public-private partnerships with more incentives to collaborate with industry. This would help to overcome the barriers in funding that are hampering vaccine research and development.