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NewsA phase 2B trial of SurVaxM, a peptide-based vaccine for newly diagnosed glioblastoma, missed its primary survival endpoint in the overall patient population. But there's a silver lining: patients aged 65 and under saw meaningfully longer survival and slower disease progression — results researchers are calling one of the strongest signals seen in this disease in years.
A phase 2B trial of SurVaxM, a peptide-based immunotherapy vaccine targeting survivin — a protein found in nearly all glioblastomas — failed to significantly extend overall survival (OS) in the full study population of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. The SURVIVE trial, which enrolled 233 evaluable patients, showed a median OS of 22.8 months with SurVaxM vs. 20.3 months with placebo — a difference that didn't reach statistical significance.
However, a prespecified subgroup analysis told a more encouraging story. Patients aged 65 and younger who received the vaccine lived significantly longer and had slower disease progression compared to those on placebo. Investigators noted the placebo group performed better than historical benchmarks, which may have made it harder to show a statistically significant benefit in the overall cohort.
Why it matters: Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive brain cancers, with very few treatment advances in recent decades. While SurVaxM didn't clear the bar for the full trial population, its strong signal in younger patients is prompting the company to pursue FDA discussions on potential next steps — keeping hope alive for a disease that desperately needs new options.