KISIMA® Cancer Vaccine

Clinical research has shown that the current wave of checkpoint-centric therapies is beneficial in those patients with immunologically active and highly-mutated so-called ‘hot’ tumors. But they have limited efficacy in those tumor types that lack these properties, commonly known as ‘cold’ tumors. Boehringer Ingelheim has made a generational commitment to transforming cancer care, with the ultimate goal of curing a range of cancers. We are developing complementary platforms including T-cell engagers, oncolytic viruses, cancer vaccines, which have the potential to turn cold tumors hot, extending the benefits of immunotherapy to more people.

Unlike prophylactic vaccines which offer protection against infections before they occur, therapeutic vaccines are meant to combat existing diseases using the body’s own immune system. Therapeutic cancer vaccines carry antigens, pieces of protein that are also present in tumors, to immune cells potentially allowing anti-tumor immunity to be initiated.