The immunotherapeutic isn’t a vaccine in the conventional sense where the immune system is harnessed to attack the cancer itself. Lung cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in particular, tend to overproduce receptors for the peptide growth factor. CIMAvax was developed to starve lung cancer cells of this growth stimulator. One of the five vaccine inventors, Gisela Gonzalez, PhD, uses the analogy that CIMAvax “castrates” the lung cancer. The agreement they signed with CIM to import the vaccine for U.S clinical trials required that FDA inspectors certify the CIM production facilities.

Source: Forbes November 26, 2016 15:36 UTC