Tumor-specific immunization by transcutaneous vaccination: Preclinical and clinical development of drug forms for adjuvant therapy of Merkel cell carcinoma (B18*)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 213555243

Aim of TP B18N is the pharmaceutical, preclinical and clinical development of a novel nanoparticular vac-cination platform for the treatment of patients with polyoma virus associated merkel cell carcinoma (PyV-MCC). We will establish a suitable application format for our patented transcutaneous immunization method to test tolerability and efficacy in a polyoma virus induced tumor model and analyze the modes of action. Beyond this, the formal prerequisites for conduction of a clinical study in PyV-MCC patients will be in-stalled.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1066: Nano-Dimensional Polymer Therapeutics for Tumour Therapy
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Stephan Grabbe; Professor Dr. Peter Langguth; Professor Dr. Markus P. Radsak