Imino sugar adjuvant technology wins major DTI grant
MNLpharma (MNL), in conjunction with Cambridge BioStability (CBL) and the University of Cambridge, has received a major grant award from the DTI to develop controlled-release nanoparticle vaccines. The DTI is providing a grant of
MNLpharma (MNL), in conjunction with Cambridge BioStability (CBL) and the University of Cambridge, has received a major grant award from the DTI to develop controlled-release nanoparticle vaccines. The DTI is providing a grant of £1.5m over three years. The project partners are providing matching funds, bringing the total investment in the programme to £3.1m.
The overall aim of the project is to produce a room-temperature stable, controlled-release vaccine technology. The initial antigens to be tested as part of the project will be hepatitis B, anthrax and tetanus.
The controlled release technology is being designed to eliminate the need for vaccine booster doses, a common cause of poor compliance in immunisation. Room-temperature stable vaccines would remove the requirement for cold storage, which currently results in the loss of product through cold-chain disruption during shipping - a particular problem when transporting and storing vaccines in the developing world.
MNL's role in the project will be to develop an imino sugar adjuvant for incorporation into the products to enhance the immune response to the controlled release vaccines. These small sugar-like molecules are highly effective at bolstering an immune response. Specifically, imino sugars act on dendritic cells to induce a cytokine-mediated response.
Further advantages of imino sugars are their size and stability, which make them ideal for inclusion in a room-temperature stable and controlled-release formulation. In addition they are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and have been found to be non-toxic in preclinical studies, so have the potential to be safe for use in childhood vaccines.
Adjuvants that act on dendritic cells are already in development at such companies as Corixa (GSK), Coley Pharmaceuticals and Novartis. These adjuvants, act on toll-like receptors of dendritic cells. MNL's imino sugar adjuvants also act on dendritic cells but have an alternative mechanism of action. As simple small molecules the imino sugars could have significant advantages over current adjuvants in development, the company says.
MNL will also be managing the immunology and toxicology for the project.
"A vaccine technology that uses CBL's nanoparticles to control the release of the vaccine and MNL's imino sugar adjuvants to optimise the immune response has great potential," said Hadyn Parry, ceo of MNLpharma. "If the project is successful the technology will reach a stage where it can be licensed to the major vaccine manufacturers for clinical evaluation with specific human vaccines."
