Biomira Inc.
Biomira Inc. is a biotechnology company applying its leading
technology in immunotherapy and organic chemistry for the
development of cancer therapeutics. The Company's commitment to
the development of products for the treatment of cancer is
currently focused on synthetic therapeutic vaccines and
innovative strategies for immunotherapy of cancer. We are the
Cancer Vaccine People(TM).
Company Details
Year Established:
1985
Total Sales ($CDN):
$1,000,000 - $5,000,000
Number of Employees:
114
Company Information
Billl Wickson
Title:
Manager
Area of Responsibility:
Administrative Services
Telephone:
(780) 490-2818
Fax:
(780) 450-4772
Email:
Click Here
Tom Facklam
Title:
Vice President
Area of Responsibility:
Manufacturing/Production/Operations
Telephone:
(780) 450-3761
Fax:
(780) 450-4772
Guy Ely
Title:
Vice President
Telephone:
(780) 450-3761
Robert D. Aubrey
Title:
Manager
Area of Responsibility:
Export Sales & Marketing
Telephone:
(780) 490-2801
Fax:
(780) 450-4772
Email:
Click Here
T.A. Mcpherson
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(780) 490-2800
Fax:
(780) 450-4772
Email:
Click Here
Products
Oligosaccharides
Glycoaminoacids
Glycopeptides
Peptides
Theratope
Theratope vaccine is a biological formulation incorporating a
synthetic mimic of Stn, a naturally occurring cancer-associated
antigen found on cancer cells. The STn epitope is attached to a
protein carrier KLH and is administered subcutaneously,
initially with DETOX B SE adjuvant. The standard Theratope
vaccine program involves pre-treatment with a single low dose of
cyclophosphamide, given as an immunomodulator to enhance the
effect of treatment. The vaccine is designed to stimulate a
patient's immune system to induce an immune response to control
cancer. Intellectual property is protected by Biomira's patents
and trade secrets. Biomira has long term secure supply
agreements for the purchased vaccine components. Theratope
entered Phase III trials in November 1998 and completed
enrolment of 1.030 patients in March 2001. The final analysis
for this product candidate is expected towards the end of the
first half of 2003.
Theratope is also being tested in a Phase II pilot study for
pateints with colorectal cancer. This 20-patient trial is fully
enrolled. Patients are being enrolled in a Phase II trial for
patients with metastatic breast cancer who are using aromatase
inhibitors or Faslodex. This trial is enrolling patients in the
U.S. only.
Muc-1 Vaccines
Biomira, through its licensing of patents from the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London,
England, has secured world-wide rights to any MUC-1 vaccine.
These issues or pending patents are related to the compositon of
matter.
Blp25 Liposomal Vaccine
BLP25 Liposomal vaccine is a liposomal peptide vaccine
incorporating a 25 amino acid sequence of the MUC-1 mucin. In
pre-clinical models, BLP25 Liposomal vaccine prevented the
appearance of lung metastases when given
in advance of the breast cancer cell line expressing human MUC-
1.
In another series of experiments where BLP25 Liposomal vaccine
was given after the cancer had established small, microscopic
cancer nodules, cancer cells were almost completely eradicated
following BLP25 Liposomal vaccine treatment. A Phase II
clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer, where there are an
estimated 149,000 new cases in North America each year, was
completed in Canada. This novel peptide may also be tested in
other appropriate cancer indications. BLP Liposomal vaccine is
currently wrapping up enrolment in a Phase IIb study for
patients with metastatic lung cancer. 166 patients are being
enrolled in this trial in both Canada and the U.K. Results are
expected in the second half of 2003. A Phase II pilot study is
also enrolling patients with prostate cancer at the Cross Cancer
Institute in Edmonton, Alberta.
Liposomes
At Biomira USA, a novel system for administering IL-2 has been
developed by incorporating it in a liposome (L-IL2). A liposome
is a fat droplet, smaller than a red blood cell. In this case,
it is used as a delivery system to carry and facilitate the slow
release of IL-2 to cells of the immune system. When given
intravenously, L-IL2 appears to have less toxicity than free
IL-2. L-IL2 also appears to enhance the therapeutic effect of
peptide vaccines in preclinical models. This may be important in
clinical trials with BLP25.
Services