IC31® Seasonal Influenza vaccine
The novel influenza vaccine incorporates our potent adjuvant IC31® with the seasonal, trivalent Influenza vaccine Agrippal® from our strategic partner Novartis. After an agreement signed in July 2007, Novartis gained exclusive license to utilize IC31® in the development of a superior vaccine targeting seasonal Influenza.
In pre-clinical studies, the IC31® adjuvanted vaccine showed to increase Haemaglutination inhibition titers significantly. Furthermore, the presence of IC31® induced sustained high levels of influenza-specific T-cells as well as IgG2a antibodies, both indicators for an immune response known to improve and broaden protection against influenza infections.
The initial Phase I clinical trial was completed in February 2008. In this randomized, controlled study, the vaccine candidate was tested in 72 healthy, adult volunteers. The results showed an excellent safety and tolerability profile that was comparable to the non-adjuvanted standard vaccine. In all study groups, vaccination with the vaccine candidate led to the induction of virus-specific T-cells and protective levels of antibody responses against the three included influenza strains. Further trials are ongoing, conducted by Novartis.
About Influenza
As many as 15 percent of the world’s population suffers an influenza infection each year, and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths are linked to influenza each year, according to the World Health Organization.
Usual Influenza symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pains and a runny nose. Though not usually deadly for most, the elderly, young children and people suffering from chronic illnesses such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes are at particular risk of complications and death.
Influenza vaccines
Vaccination is the principal measure for preventing Influenza. However, currently approved vaccines have a suboptimal efficacy profile, especially in population groups with the highest disease burden, including the elderly and infants.
Thus, future research has to focus on the development of improved Influenza vaccines that require lower doses of antigen and show higher efficiency in risk groups. In this regard, our use of adjuvant seems to be a promising approach since they have the potential to enhance the effectiveness and thereby allow for a reduction of the antigenic dose without loss of immunogenicity.
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