Overview

• The generalized mRNA formulation stimulated PD-L1 expression within tumors, triggering an antiviral-style immune response rather than targeting specific cancer antigens.
• In mouse models of melanoma, pairing the vaccine with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors produced a strong synergistic antitumor effect.
• A separate mRNA formulation used alone eradicated tumors entirely in skin, bone and brain cancer models.
• Results published July 18 in Nature Biomedical Engineering showcase a shift toward off-the-shelf cancer vaccines.
• The University of Florida team is optimizing formulations and planning first-in-human clinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy.