N4 Pharma PLC Research collaboration for novel DNA vaccine
02 Oktober 2018 - 12:44PM
RNS Non-Regulatory
TIDMN4P
N4 Pharma PLC
02 October 2018
02 October 2018
N4 Pharma Plc
("N4 Pharma" or the "Company")
Research collaboration for novel DNA vaccine
N4 Pharma Plc (AIM: N4P), the specialist pharmaceutical company
developing silica nanoparticles for vaccines and therapeutics,
today announces that it has commissioned a research program with
the Gowans laboratory in the University of Adelaide ("UoA") to
investigate the potential of the Company's Nuvec(R) system to
increase the efficacy of UoA's novel DNA vaccine.
The UoA has developed a novel cytolytic DNA vaccine which
encodes an immunogen and a cytolytic protein (perforin). UoA has
shown their cytolytic DNA vaccine to be significantly more
immunogenic than a canonical DNA vaccine (which encodes an
alternative immunogen) when delivered via the intradermal route.
DNA vaccines are being developed as novel vaccine strategies to
improve on the poor immunogenicity seen by traditional protein
based vaccines in cancer and infection (e.g. HIV, hepatitis C).
Despite UoA showing improved immunogenicity with their cytolytic
DNA vaccine the immune response is not sufficient to proceed into
clinical trials. The purpose of this research collaboration is to
determine if the use of Nuvec(R) can further increase the efficacy
of the UoA cytolytic DNA vaccine in vivo.
The research program will not result in any financial benefit to
the Company and the limited costs of the research, which are not
expected to exceed GBP30,000, will be borne by N4 Pharma. Phase 1
is to test the delivery efficacy of combining the UoA cytolytic DNA
vaccine with Nuvec(R) and will take around 4 weeks before
proceeding into actual immunogenicity studies using different
models, which would take a further 24 weeks.
Nigel Theobald, CEO of N4 Pharma commented:
"This research program is a good example of how we see Nuvec(R)
ultimately being used by partners. UoA has developed a novel
cytolytic DNA vaccine but still needs to enhance its efficacy in
order to take it forward.
"By partnering with UoA in this way and funding this research N4
will gain considerable insight into Nuvec's enhancing capability
which will then form part of the data package to present to
prospective commercial partners."
Enquiries:
N4 Pharma Plc
Nigel Theobald, CEO Via Alma PR
Allenby Capital Limited Tel: +44(0)203 328 5656
James Reeve/Virginia Bull/Asha
Chotai
Alma PR
Josh Royston Tel: +44(0)778 090 1979
Robyn Fisher Tel: +44(0)754 070 6191
About N4 Pharma
N4 Pharma is a specialist pharmaceutical company developing a
novel silica nanoparticle delivery system (Nuvec(R)) for use in
vaccines and therapeutics.
Nuvec(R) has a unique spiky structure designed for excellent
loading and transfection of pDNA and mRNA. As well as good dose
loading it has strong binding affinity, pDNA and mRNA protection,
transfects a range of cells and has shown a good immune response in
preliminary studies.
N4 Pharma's business model for Nuvec(R) nanoparticles is to
undertake the required pre-clinical and manufacturing work to
demonstrate the readiness and capability of its nucleic acid
delivery system as part of a vaccine and/or method to deliver
DNA/RNA so that it can license the technology to major players
developing treatments in this area, in return for up front
milestone and royalty payments associated with the licence.
Glossary
Cytolytic: An agent that causes a cell to burst open. In the
context of the cytolytic DNA vaccine, the cytolytic protein will
induce necrosis in vaccine targeted cells resulting in release of a
range of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and cross
presentation of the immunogen (antigen), and an increase in
antigen-specific immune responses.
Canonical DNA vaccine: DNA encodes the immunogen only (i.e. not
the cytolytic agent). DNA vaccines not encoding a cytolytic agent,
such as perforin, fail to result in cell death and rely on direct
targeting of antigen presenting cells. Hence, canonical DNA
vaccination is less efficient than cytolytic DNA vaccination.
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END
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