Zelluna Closes UV1 Cancer Vaccine Programme After Fifth Phase II Trial Failure in Ovarian Cancer
Key Insights
The Phase II DOVACC trial evaluating UV1 in BRCAwt platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (search) failed to meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival.
This marks the fifth and final Phase II study of the UV1 cancer vaccine that did not achieve its primary endpoint, concluding the programme entirely.
Zelluna, formed via a 2025 business combination with Ultimovacs (search), will now focus exclusively on its allogeneic TCR-NK platform and lead candidate ZI-MA4-1.
Zelluna ASA (search) announced on 26 June 2026 that the investigator-led Phase II DOVACC clinical trial (NCT04742075) evaluating the UV1 cancer vaccine in patients with BRCA wild-type (BRCAwt) platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer did not meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). This outcome represents the fifth and final Phase II study of UV1 to fall short of its primary endpoint, and Zelluna now considers the UV1 cancer vaccine programme closed.
The UV1 asset was inherited through the 2025 business combination between Zelluna and Ultimovacs (search) and had been in a previously communicated wrap-up phase. With the DOVACC readout, the company has formally concluded the programme.
DOVACC Trial Design and Outcome
The DOVACC trial, sponsored by the NSGO-CTU, was designed to assess whether UV1, administered alongside two established cancer medicines, could slow disease progression compared to standard treatment alone in patients with BRCAwt platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (search). The study did not achieve its primary endpoint of PFS.
The DOVACC readout follows four prior Phase II studies evaluating UV1, none of which met their respective primary endpoints. Across all five Phase II trials, the UV1 cancer vaccine failed to demonstrate sufficient clinical benefit.
Strategic Implications for Zelluna
Zelluna stated that, aside from minimal costs associated with completing remaining study close-out activities, it does not expect to incur any further material costs related to the UV1 programme. The company's focus is now entirely on its allogeneic "off-the-shelf" T Cell Receptor-based Natural Killer (TCR-NK) cell therapy platform for the treatment of solid cancers.
The company's lead candidate, ZI-MA4-1, is described as the world's first MAGE-A4 targeting TCR-NK therapy in clinical testing. Zelluna's platform combines the innate killing power of NK cells with the precise solid tumour targeting capability of TCRs, an approach designed to address the limitations of current cell therapies in solid tumours.
Namir Hassan serves as CEO of Zelluna, with Geir Christian Melen as CFO. The company is headquartered at the Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park in Oslo, Norway, and is listed on the Euronext Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker ZLNA.