A New Stage for Cancer Vaccines: Q&A with Nicolas Poirier, PhD

Nicolas Poirier, PhD
CEO
OSE Immunotherapeutics

Cancer vaccines is one of the most watched spaces in oncology. Dr. Nicolas Poirier, PhD, and CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics, spoke with Pharmaceutical Executive about recent developments in the space, including a potential vaccine that’s entered phase III trials.

Pharmaceutical Executive: What is the current status of cancer vaccines?
Nicolas Poirier: Cancer vaccines have reached a very different stage today compared to past decades. For many years, early approaches struggled because the field did not fully understand why immune responses against tumors failed. What has changed is both science and the patient selection strategies. We now know much more about tumor antigens, how to engineer them to be more immunogenic, and how to select patients who are most likely to respond based on prior benefits from immunotherapies.

In fact, cancer vaccines are no longer just theoretical. At OSE Immunotherapeutics, our lead candidate, Tedopi, is already in a pivotal Phase III global trial for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after checkpoint inhibitor failure. This makes it the most advanced therapeutic cancer vaccine in development worldwide. Importantly, it has already demonstrated efficacy in a randomized clinical study, something competitors have not yet achieved.

PE: Do cancer vaccines work differently than traditional vaccines?
Poirier: Yes, fundamentally. Traditional vaccines are preventive, designed to prime the immune system against infectious agents like viruses or bacteria before a person is exposed. Cancer vaccines, by contrast, are therapeutic — they are given once the disease is already present. The goal is to educate or “re-arm” the immune system to recognize tumor-associated antigens and attack cancer cells that have evaded immune surveillance.

With Tedopi, for example, we combine multiple engineered tumor antigens to create an immune response that is both broad and strong. This allows us to stimulate T cells to recognize cancer cells that patients’ immune systems had previously lost the ability to fight. As I often describe, patients who have failed checkpoint inhibitors have “lost the first battle,” but with the right vaccine we can refresh and rearm new soldiers to continue the fight.

PE: How close are cancer vaccines to hitting the market?
Poirier: We are closer than ever before. Our pivotal Phase III trial of Tedopi in NSCLC is underway across 14 countries, including the U.S. and Europe. We expect Phase III results by 2027, with potential registration in 2028 if successful. That timeline could make Tedopi the first modern therapeutic cancer vaccine to reach the market.

It’s worth noting that interest in the field has accelerated dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted mRNA technologies. Companies like BioNTech and Moderna are developing personalized mRNA cancer vaccines, while OSE and others are advancing off-the-shelf peptide-based approaches. Each platform has its strengths and limitations: mRNA vaccines are fast and flexible, but their immune responses are not yet as broad or durable, whereas peptide vaccines like Tedopi are ready-to-use and highly potent, especially important in advanced cancer patients who cannot wait weeks for bespoke treatments.

PE: How broad a range of cancers could a vaccine potentially offer protection for?
Poirier: The potential is very broad. Today, most programs focus on lung cancer, melanoma, and other tumors where immune checkpoint inhibitors have already shown efficacy, because these patients’ immune systems are primed but later become resistant. In this setting, vaccines can re-stimulate the immune response. That’s exactly what we’re targeting in NSCLC with Tedopi.

Looking forward, the same principles can be applied to other cancers. By engineering tumor-associated antigens and combining technologies, vaccines could address a wide spectrum of malignancies. In the longer term, cancer vaccines may not only treat advanced disease but also be used in earlier settings to prevent relapse after surgery. And looking further ahead, once we validate platforms that are safe, potent, and well tolerated, there is even the possibility of preventive cancer vaccines for high-risk populations such as smokers or individuals living in polluted cities.