Tampa Biotech Company Looks Forward to Launch of Skin Cancer Vaccine
Tampa has long been known to stand at the forefront of medical research, including the internationally recognized work being done at Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida. Now, out of the research powerhouse that is Tampa, a biotech company says it’s getting very close to a shot that will treat skin cancers.
Immunotherapy on the fast track
Morphogenesis CEO James Bianco expects to get fast-track approval for the company’s vaccine that will treat certain types of skin cancer. But “vaccine” isn’t really the right word: The treatment is actually a genetic immunotherapy. Here’s how it works:
Morphogenesis grows plasmid DNA inside bacteria, then packs it off into vials to be injected. Once injected, the DNA/bacteria combo attaches to the tumor.
The presence of the fake bacteria is impossible for the body to ignore. It causes the body’s immune system to get busy producing new white blood cells. Attack!
But when those white blood cells are thinking they’re attacking bacteria, they’re actually attacking the tumor the lab-grown bacteria is attached to. Genius.
Build it and they will invest
Smart people in medical circles were impressed with Morphogenesis’s research from the jump. Between 2015 and 2020, the company brought in more than $40 million, mostly from local investors. Well-known Tampa cardiologist / entrepreneur / philanthropist / giant home builder Kiran Patel and his partners own about 70% of the company.
Morphogenesis has been conducting trials at Moffitt Cancer Center, the University of Southern California and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. If all continues to go as swimmingly as it has thus far, the vaccine will be approved for the market by mid-2025.
What’s next for Morphogenesis
The company has signaled its openness to take the next step in its growth, whether that be sale, merger or IPO. Bianco’s goal is to have Morphogenesis acquired by or working alongside a major pharmaceutical company.
