Out-licensing

Modified Vaccination Technique (MVT) for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases and Chronic Infections

Introduction/Background

The immune system provides individuals with a necessary protection against foreign invaders (bacteria, parasites, viruses). This protection can be enhanced for the benefit of the host by vaccination. While a wide range of vaccines are successfully employed to prevent major diseases from occurring (diphtheria, measles, polio, tetanus) there are conditions that cannot be prevented or treated by presently available immunization methods, such as chronic infection, autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Aims/Hypothesis

Our research is focused on the development of a novel technology for the vaccination of such diseases.

Research

Researchers at the University of Calgary have developed a new vaccination technology called MVT. The technique with appropriate modifications can be applied in both prophylactic and therapeutic regimens with equal effectiveness to evoke an active immune response to combat presently unpreventable and untreatable chronic conditions.

The effectiveness has been investigated in an experimental autoimmune kidney disease called slowly progressive Heymann nephritis. The vaccine was applied pre and/or post induction of the disease and was comprised of immune complexes (ICs) made up of a particular composition of unmodified renal antigen and an antigen specific multivalent IgM antibody directed against it at slight antigen excess. Injections of ICs increased production of specific IgM autoantibodies (aabs) against the disease contributing renal antigen. These nonpathogenic aabs prevented further production of pathogenic IgG aabs by removing (catabolizing) disease maintaining renal antigens from the circulation. The MVT specifically down regulated/terminated the disease in all the animals tested without apparent side effects.

Conclusion

We have developed a novel technology with applications in the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccinations to evoke specific immune responses to prevent/treat chronic infection caused diseases, cancer and autoimmune disorders. This technology can be extended to cancer as well; evidence is currently being collected

Relevance/Opportunity

A PCT Patent has been filed (PCT/CA2004/001494) National Phase: US, Canada, China, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan. Please enquire regarding licensing or codevelopment partnerships quoting reference no. 777.1.

Preclinical

PCT filed (PCT/CA2004/001494)