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Press Release

Pre-clinical findings support the potential use of RhoVac’s drug candidate, onilcamotide, across several cancers

May 18, 2022

RhoVac AB (“RHOVAC”) today, 18th May 2022, announces preclinical findings from its collaboration with St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI), a unit of CBCI Society for Medical Education, in Bangalore India. These findings support the hypothesised tissue agnostic mode of action of onilcamotide. The findings identify the crucial MHC-II expression in more tumour cells than was previously known, and they also show co-localisation of the MHC-II receptors and onilcamotide’s target protein, RhoC.

In order for a T-cell based cancer vaccine to work, it must be able to induce T cell recognition and elimination of cells expressing one or several target proteins (antigens). These are typically presented by the cells either via receptors called MHC-I or MHC-II. RhoVac’s cancer vaccine candidate, onilcamotide, is predominantly driven by T cells of the CD4+ sub-type, and these cells require the antigen to be presented by MHC-II receptors. The pre-clinical study collaboration with Dr Sweta Srivastava, a faculty within St. Johns National Academy of Health Sciences (St. John’s Research Institute), CBCI, has now shown that these types of receptors (MHC-II) are found in many different forms of cancer cells, and that RhoC appears to be co-located with these receptors on the cell surface. The data suggests that onilcamotide is tissue agnostic, i.e., that it could be used across cancer types. The data has even documented the presence of MHC-II receptors in more types of cancer than previously known. Fore reference, please find a first article on the findings here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.15.492002v1.full.pdf.

RhoVac CEO, Anders Månsson, comments: “We are very excited about these findings that coincide with previous pre-clinical findings suggesting a potential broad use of onilcamotide in cancer, provided we also get a first clinical proof of concept for its use in prostate cancer. If this also comes true – and we will find out soon - our drug candidate has a huge possibility of being used in many different cancers going forward.”    


This disclosure contains information that RhoVac is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU nr 596/2014). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person, on 18-05-2022 18:11 CET.

On RhoVac AB
RhoVac was established as a private company in Denmark in 2007. Under this company, the basic development steps for the drug candidate RV001 (onilcamotide) were undertaken. In 2015 the Swedish RhoVac AB was formed, which is now headquartered and in 2016 the company was listed on the then Aktietorget in Sweden (now Spotlight Stock Market). RhoVac has passed the early stages of development. In 2018, the first clinical trial (phase I / II) was completed in prostate cancer, demonstrating that RV001 has good safety and is well tolerated, and that the drug provides the expected immune response that will exert its effect on the cancer cells. The strong immune response has also been shown to last over time. Therefore, RhoVac has launched a clinical phase IIb trial that has recruited more than 180 prostate cancer patients. The study will produce primary outcome results in the first half of 2022, and it is designed to show, with statistical significance, the effect of RV001 in preventing disease progression in prostate cancer after surgery or radiation to the primary tumour. RhoVac is listed on Spotlight, Sweden, a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) since March 2016. The share is traded under the ticker RHOVAC. Read more at www.rhovac.com. RhoVac is analysed by EDISON Group as well as by Swedish “Analysguiden”. Links to these analyses are found below:

Edison:                          https://www.edisongroup.com/publication/phase-iib-bravac-study-results-in-h122/30057
Analysguiden:              https://www.aktiespararna.se/analysguiden/Hitta-Bolag/rhovac/rhovac-ab

On BRaVac
BRaVac is a randomized, placebo controlled and double-blind study, with the primary objective of evaluating if treatment with the drug candidate RV001 can prevent or limit the development of advanced prostate cancer after curative intent treatment. The clinical phase IIb study is an international, multi-centre study, has recruited over 180 patients in six European countries (Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, and United Kingdom) and the US. After treatment, patient in the study will enter an Extended Follow-Up that could last until Q4 2022.

On St. John’s Research Institute
St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI) is an integral part of the St. John’s Academy of Health Sciences that is administered by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and was conceptualized in the year 1998 and moved into the present facility in the year 2004. The Academy has a broad, holistic vision and an approach to health problems of the country. Since its inception, the Academy has been involved in training of health professionals and service delivery through the St. John’s Medical College and Hospital, which is today ranked among the premier medical institutions in the country. The SJRI was set up with a commitment to pursue excellence in research and to build capacities in health-related research.