According to a press release from Inovio Pharmaceuticals, the American biotech company’s experimental recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) drug INO-3106 showed promising results at the end of a pilot clinical study of two individuals with the HPV-associated disease.
About Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis and HPV
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a disease most frequently caused by HPV6 and HPV11. These two strains of the human papillomavirus are also known for being the predominant cause of genital warts. RRP is characterized by the persistent development of benign (non-cancerous) tumors in the airway linking the nose, mouth, and lungs.
Much like the warts more commonly associated with HPV6 and 11, there is nothing inherently dangerous about RRP tumors. However, in serious cases, these tumors can grow to considerable sizes and form life-threatening obstructions in the airway. Additionally, some of these tumors can later become cancerous.
Like many other forms of HPV and associated diseases, there is currently no known cure for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Currently, the only approved treatment to slow progression of the disease is regular surgery to remove the offending tumors. That’s a bit of a drop in the bucket, though, since the tumors always grow back. An RRP patient might need surgery done on their airway several times in a single year.
The Promising Pilot Study
The pilot clinical study of INO-3106, a non-invasive immunotherapy drug candidate from Inovio, was downright tiny: just two patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis were recruited, along with one tracheal cancer patient. All had tested positive for the human papillomavirus strain HPV6.
The cancer patient withdrew from the study before a follow-up could be administered, but both RRP patients experienced astounding results. Before their participation in the study, both had received regular surgery about once every six months to remove tumors in their airways. Just two years after receiving the last scheduled dose of INO-3106, though, both are living surgery-free. One hasn’t required surgery in the two years since receiving his final dose, and the other has gone over a year without an operation since going off the program.
Inovio is in the process of developing several other experimental HPV therapies. Dr. J. Joseph Kim, President and CEO, has said that he wants to make the company the “go-to” immunotherapy provider for all major HPV-related diseases. Given the promising results of the pilot study, it’s highly likely that Inovio will continue to develop INO-3106 in more rigorously controlled clinical trials. Inovio has also expressed a desire to market the treatment as an orphan drug.
HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted infection. Why might it be of such interest for researchers to develop treatments for diseases linked to this virus? Share your thoughts with Patient Worthy!
