Transgene SA

Société Anonyme
Traded as TNG.PA
Industry Biotechnology / Pharmaceutical
Founded 1979
Headquarters Illkirch, Strasbourg, France
Key people
 Dr. Philippe Archinard, chairman & CEO, Stéphane Boissel, EVP & CFO
Products TG4010; JX594/TG6006; TG4040; TG4001
Website www.transgene.fr

Transgene SA is a France-based fully integrated biopharmaceutical company specialising in immunotherapeutics to treat cancer and infectious diseases.[1] The company has subsidiaries in China and in the USA. The company has been strongly supported by the Mérieux family since 1994. Transgene was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1998.[2]

History

Transgene was founded in 1979, on the initiative of Pierre Chambon and Philippe Kourilsky. Jean-Pierre Lecocq was the first Scientific Director of Transgene in 1980.

Technology

The core of Transgene’s discovery platform is gene transfer. This process requires vectors to deliver genes to the target cells. Transgene uses three types of vectors: Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA); Vaccinia virus and adenovirus.

Clinical products

TG4010, a specific active immunotherapy to treat MUC1-expressing solid tumors, is currently being tested in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Phase IIb clinical trials.[3][4] The therapy is based on a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the MUC1 antigen and the human cytokine, interleukin-2 (IL2).

JX594/TG6006 (Pexa-Vec) is being tested in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is currently in Phase II trials.[5] The engineered oncolytic vaccinia virus is armed with the immunostimulatory cytokine GM-CSF and is designed to selectively target and destroy cancer cells through three diverse mechanisms of action: lysis of cancer cells through viral replication, the reduction of the blood supply to tumors through vascular targeting and disruption, and the stimulation of the body's immune response against cancer cells.[6] Results from a Phase II trial have been published in a February 2013 Nature Medicine article - "Randomized dose-finding clinical trial of oncolytic immunotherapeutic vaccinia JX-594 in liver cancer." The peer reviewed article argued that: "JX-594 demonstrated oncolytic and immunotherapy MOA, tumor responses and dose-related survival in individuals with HCC."[7]

In infectious diseases Transgene is developing TG4040, an immunotherapy product that is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infections (HCV);[8] and TG4001, which has completed Phase II clinical trails to treat human papilloma virus-related infections is also in development with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in a Phase IIb trial to treat head and neck cancer, specifically oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.[9] In 2011 partner Roche terminated the 2007 agreement under which Transgene granted Roche exclusive global development and commercialization rights to the therapeutic vaccine.[10]

Manufacturing

Transgene has a biomanufacturing site that is used for the production and control of starting material for pharmaceutical and clinical development.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=TNG:FP
  2. ↑ http://www.lyonbiopole.com/exchange/entreprise-56-Transgene-SA.html
  3. ↑ http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01383148
  4. ↑ http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2811%2970259-5/fulltext
  5. ↑ http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=JX594
  6. ↑ http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2808%2970107-4/fulltext
  7. ↑ JX-594 demonstrated oncolytic and immunotherapy MOA, tumor responses and dose-related survival in individuals with HCC. Nature Medicine 19, 329-336 (2013) doi: 10.1038/nm.3089
  8. ↑ http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01055821?term=TG4040&rank=2
  9. ↑ http://www.eortc.org/fuzzysearch/results/Transgene%20SA
  10. ↑ http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1517/13543776.2012.673589
  11. ↑ http://www.emrreports.com/english/Reports/Transgene_SA_TNG_Financial_and_Strategic_SWOT_Analysis_Review2.html
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