The patient is waiting

breaking news: RTS,S Malaria Vaccine Demonstrates Postive Results in Study of 6,000 African Children

QS-21 Stimulon® adjuvant is designed to strengthen the body's immune response to a vaccine's antigen, thus making it more effective.

The New England Journal of Medicine has published results from a Phase 3 trial of GSK's malaria vaccine. This vaccine contains Agenus QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant as a key component.

QS-21 Stimulon® Adjuvant Pipeline

Overview

QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant* has become a critical component in the development of investigational preventive vaccine formulations across a wide variety of infectious diseases, and appears to be essential for several investigational therapeutic vaccines intended to treat cancer and degenerative disorders. Currently, QS-21 is being studied in clinical trials in approximately 15 vaccine indications, of which four are in Phase 3 studies. These include RTS,S for malaria, MAGE-A3 for non-small cell lung cancer, MAGE-A3 for melanoma and Zoster Herpes for shingles. In addition, a QS-21-containing vaccine candidate is in Phase 2 trials for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Agenus' licensees include GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy**, and Integrated Biotherapeutics. QS-21 represents the most advanced adjuvant not yet in an approved product.

Therapeutic Applications

Through commercial licenses with leading pharmaceutical companies, research collaborations with academic institutions worldwide, and Agenus’ own internal programs, QS-21-based vaccines have been evaluated (including in ongoing studies) in more than 50 different indications.

To date, there have been over 40 Phase 2 trials conducted. QS-21 is currently being evaluated in approximately 15 vaccine candidates, four of which have Phase 3 trials ongoing in major indications.

Agenus has also developed product combinations to expand the scope of potential applications for QS-21. Agenus’ licensees are further developing and exploiting combinations in several vaccine products.

Availability

QS-21 represents a significant, near-term opportunity as a powerful adjuvant across a variety of diseases. Agenus currently has multiple partnerships for QS-21 and is capable of supplying significant quantities of QS-21.

With ongoing partnerships, QS-21 is currently being evaluated in multiple phase III programs that are fully funded under our agreements. Pending successful results, we anticipate receiving QS-21 revenues in the next few years. As additional results from other late-stage clinical trials are produced, QS-21 has the potential to generate substantial revenue in the years to come.

Additionally, Agenus continues its internal development of QS-21 in combination with our vaccine candidates in infectious diseases and is exploring additional partnership opportunities.

*QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant and the related agreements, and HerpV are assets of Antigenics Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Agenus Inc.

**Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has acquired substantially all of the assets and rights of Elan Corporation (“Elan”) related to its Alzheimer Immunotherapy Program. Elan was the original licensee of QS-21 for use in its Alzheimer’s disease vaccines.