Definition

A peptide-based cancer vaccine composed of the adjuvant Amphiphile (Amph; AMP)-CpG-7909, which is a lipid-conjugated immune-stimulatory oligonucleotide, admixed with Amph modified Kirsten Rat Sarcoma (KRAS) mutated peptides, which contain a mixture of lipid-conjugated peptide-based antigens, with potential immunostimulatory and antitumor activities. Upon subcutaneous administration of the AMP KRAS vaccine ELI-002, the lipid moieties bind to tissue albumin and the complex is delivered to and accumulates in the lymph nodes where it is taken up by antigen presenting cells (APCs), primarily dendritic cells (DCs). This may stimulate the host immune system to mount a cytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response against KRAS/neuroblastoma ras viral oncogene homolog (NRAS)-expressing tumor cells. KRAS and NRAS, tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) that are involved in the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, are overexpressed on a variety of tumor cell types and play key role in tumor cell proliferation. The CpG-based adjuvant may enhance the mutated KRAS T cell-specific immune response. ELI-002 2P contains two KRAS mutated Amph-peptides, including Amph-G12D and Amph-G12R. ELI-002 (ELI-002 7P) contains seven KRAS mutated Amph-peptides (Amph-Peptide 7), including G12D, G12R, G12V, G12A, G12C, G12S and G13D.