Off the shelf cancer vaccine shows early promise

Phase I results for ELI-002 show a promising immune response and longer survival in pancreatic and colorectal cancer

Off the shelf cancer vaccine extends survival in early results

Phase I data on ELI-002 enrolled 25 patients who had received standard therapy but still carried detectable cancer cells. Twenty had pancreatic cancer and five had colorectal cancer. The vaccine was given in six doses aimed at the lymph nodes, with some patients receiving booster shots. About 85 percent generated an immune response to the two mutated KRAS proteins targeted by the vaccine, and two-thirds showed a strong response. Sixty-seven percent developed responses to additional KRAS proteins, suggesting broader immune activation.

For pancreatic cancer patients receiving ELI-002 2P, the study reports an average 29 months of survival and 15 months cancer-free. The researchers caution that Phase I trials are not designed to prove effectiveness, but the data are encouraging. An updated version, ELI-002 7P, has begun Phase II testing and results are due in 2026, with the aim to cover a broader range of KRAS mutations.

The study signals a shift toward off the shelf vaccines that target common cancer mutations rather than patient specific ones. If confirmed in larger trials, the approach could reach a large share of cancers driven by KRAS mutations, reducing manufacturing delays and widening access.

But this is early. Small Phase I results can look impressive yet fail in later tests. The medical community must weigh the promise against costs, regulatory hurdles, and the risk that broader immune activation could come with unintended effects. The next milestone is Phase II results in 2026, which will test whether the wider KRAS coverage can translate into real benefits for patients.

Highlights

As science tests itself against time, patients await clearer answers.