ImmunoCellular Therapeutics (OTCBB:IMUC) Wednesday entered into an agreement with Johns Hopkins University which sees the college grant an exclusive, worldwide license to intellectual property surrounding the tumor-associated antigen mesothelin.

According to Zacks analyst, Grant Zeng, CFA, the clinical stage company is at the forefront of targeting cancer stem cells, the root cause of cancer and cancer recurrence. Its main drug candidate is cancer vaccine ICT-107, which has so far been tested for its use in fighting against an aggresive type of brain tumour, glioblastoma multiforme (GMB), showing promising results in a phase one trial.

Steinman’s work helped elucidate the role of dendritic cells. These cells are part of what is called the adaptive immune response, comprising various white blood cells capable of recognizing pathogens, destroying them, and mounting a stronger response in future attacks.

Rather than simply targeting a single tumor-specific antigen, ImmunoCellular’s technology pursues multiple different antigens found on cancer stem cells (CSCs).