Innogenetics reports preclinical data on prophylactic hepatitis C vaccine and identification of neutralizing HCV antibodies
Innogenetics announced preclinical data from its collaboration with the NIH (National Institutes of Health - USA) in the field of hepatitis C. Results confirmed that the current prophylactic candidate vaccine had limited efficacy in the animal model used. More importantly, the collaboration also provided compelling new in vitro data on Innogenetics' proprietary HCV antibodies that could have future therapeutic potential. In line with its previously announced strategy, the Company has decided to explore possible business opportunities, particularly for its new neutralizing antibodies. These new data have no impact on the therapeutic vaccine Phase IIb study and the other projects, which all remain fully on track.
In the prophylactic study under the supervision of Dr. Robert H. Purcell (Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA), six animals were vaccinated with a recombinant hepatitis C antigen after which they were challenged with a hepatitis C strain known to cause a high degree of chronic infection. All animals were followed for up to 12 months after challenge. As always in this model, all animals developed an acute HCV infection. Interestingly, a very steep decline in viral load was noted in four out of six animals indicative of a profound control of the immune response over the virus during treatment. However, this initial control of viral infection was only temporarily in two out of the four animals. Ultimately, two animals had a sustained complete clearance of the HCV infection.
As opposed to therapeutic vaccines which seek to reverse the natural course of chronic infection through a cellular immune response, a prophylactic vaccine approach is designed to prevent such chronic infection mainly through a humoral immune response: a clearly different goal and a clearly different immunological condition.
In the same collaboration with the NIH, more than 50 monoclonal antibodies, including human and primate antibodies, were analyzed in vitro for their ability to neutralize the hepatitis C virus. Results in the infection model indicated that three Innogenetics monoclonal antibodies have unique features and were capable of successfully neutralizing different HCV genotypes. Such a HCV neutralizing effect has clear potential therapeutic applications. Furthermore, in view of the origin of the antibodies, humanization will not be required.
Frank Morich, CEO, commented: "The new data that have emerged from our collaboration with the NIH have clearly reinforced our therapeutic activities in the field of hepatitis C. It is evident that the present prophylactic vaccine formulation provided limited efficacy results, which do not justify further continuation at this time. However, the ability of our proprietary monoclonal antibodies to neutralize the HCV virus expands current perspectives for therapeutic intervention in hepatitis C. Innogenetics is determined to bring these promising antibodies to the next level of development either alone or in collaboration with a third party."
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Topic world Antibodies
Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous
