PHASE3

Cancer vaccines are an area that anyone who is anyone is getting into, but it's a field  led largely by academics, not-for–profits, and specialist researchers. So this week we go back to basics - science that is. Australia may not have many cancer vaccine biotechs but – as we pointed out in episode one with the godfather of cancer vaccines, professor Dr Ian Frazer – it has heft in its research. Dr Seth Cheetham from the University of Queensland's Base Facility, a specialist mRNA manufacturing lab, explains why they went from COVID19 to cancer. And Dr Shalin Naik from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research explains why he's bringing back a spectre of the past, and why he believes it could be the winner of this biotechnology cage match. Support the showProduced by Rachel Williamson and Charis Palmer. Music and effect credits to Ziso, Inspector J, Seth Parson and Boom Library.

In some ways, cancer vaccines are a history of hype and hope, over success. But that hasn't stopped people from trying. In 2024, biotech CEOs are hoping that this time, it's different. Research houses are predicting significant market growth come 2030, mRNA vaccines are making it through to phase three clinical trials for the first time, and there are exciting new discoveries in technologies that have already been tried and tossed on the rubbish pile. So we asked two life sciences analysts about what they think of this market and whether this time, it really will be different. With Phase III regular Chris Kallos and Pitt Street Research cofounder Stuart Roberts.Support the showProduced by Rachel Williamson and Charis Palmer. Music and effect credits to Ziso, Inspector J, Seth Parson and Boom Library.

Cancer vaccines are a very niche section of cancer treatments. But two companies in Australia – the only two so far to go public with their work in this arena –are working on an even niche area within this. And one says their work is not a vaccine. The other does. So what gives? Well it depends on what you want to focus on: the deadly infectious nature of an oncolytic virus that bursts tumour cells from the inside, or the resulting immune memory that can fight that cancer as well as others that look similar. We speak with Imugene CEO and managing director Leslie Chong and ImmVirX founder Dr Malcolm McColl about why they think that finally the time has come for this underloved field and what they plan to do with their science if they can prove it up. Support the showProduced by Rachel Williamson and Charis Palmer. Music and effect credits to Ziso, Inspector J, Seth Parson and Boom Library.

Cancer vaccines started out as prevention. Think Gardasil for cervical and oral cancers caused by HPV, and the hepatitis B vaccine for liver cancer.But today the science has moved on, to therapy vaccines. Vaccines that take immune cells and "rub their little noses in the antigen" - the substance that forces the body to sit up and take notice of a foreign invader or unusual activity. Clinical trials abound, by some of the heavy hitters in mRNA and pharmaceuticals, but nothing yet has been commercialised. Wilsons Advisory senior equity analyst Dr Shane Storey reckons we're five years away from a vaccine from the most-likely candidate of mRNA. In this episode we talk to the coinventor of the first smash hit in cancer vaccines, Gardasil, professor Dr Ian Frazer, and Shane about where the field has come from, and where it's going. Support the showProduced by Rachel Williamson and Charis Palmer. Music and effect credits to Ziso, Inspector J, Seth Parson and Boom Library.