Glioblastoma is a deadly form of brain cancer that is diagnosed in about 15,000 Americans every year. With few effective therapies, patients and families are desperate for new options.
At Atlantic Health, early trial results for an immunotherapy treatment of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, has sparked optimism.
The Morristown-based hospital system’s research enterprise, Atlantic Health Clinical Research and Innovation Institute, is the only enrolling site in New Jersey in the national SurVaxM trial by MimiVax Inc.
SurVaxM is a vaccine that targets survivin, a cell-survival protein present in approximately 95% of glioblastomas and many other cancers. Recently announced results of the Phase 2b trial showed that about 42% of newly diagnosed patients 65 and under who were given SurVaxM along with chemotherapy were alive through 30 months or longer. That represents a doubling of survival compared to those given a placebo.
The trial gave New Jersey patients a way to join promising research without leaving the neighborhood.
The data reflects the first reportable results from the fully enrolled clinical trial, which has been underway since 2022 at 11 U.S. cancer centers.
“The SurVaxM vaccine’s targeted approach offers immense potential, and Atlantic Health is excited to be part of the trial demonstrating its effects,” said Dr. Yaron A. Moshel, MD PhD, neurosurgeon at Atlantic Health.
Glioblastoma’s median survival rate for adults is 14.6 months, according to the Glioblastoma Research Organization. Five-year survival rates are 28% for patients ages 15-39, and 6% for those 40 and older, according to the American Cancer Society.
