The Immune Response Corp. and San Diego Regional Cancer Centerreceived FDA approval to begin a gene therapy trial of vaccine forcolon cancer.

Immune Response, of Carlsbad, Calif., licensed exclusive rights tothe tumor vaccine from the Center last July. The vaccine combinestumor cells from cancer patients with secretions of interleukin-2cytokines from genetically engineered fibroblasts.

The first trial of the vaccine is designed to enroll nine patients, withthree patients treated at each of three dose levels. Immunizations willbe given three times at two-week intervals. The trial primarily willassess safety, dose-escalation and immunogenicity, said RichardBartholomew, Immune Response's senior director of appliedtechnology.

Terms of the agreement were between Immune Response and theCenter were not released, but generally involve a license fee for thecenter, shared development expenses and royalties on sales. _ JimShrine

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