NEC discovers new peptide-vaccine candidates for hepatitis C virus

Published: 23-Jul-2004

NEC Corporation, of Tokyo, and Kochi Medical School have discovered new peptide-vaccine candidates for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).


NEC Corporation, of Tokyo, and Kochi Medical School have discovered new peptide-vaccine candidates for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The discovery was enabled by a jointly developed system that predicts human antigen-presenting HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) molecule-binding peptides, which possess a high binding accuracy of 70-80%. NEC expects that these candidates will contribute greatly to the recognition of genuine drugs to prevent and treat HVC effectively.

NEC, together with Kochi Medical School, has applied for a patent regarding the HCV-derived peptide vaccine candidates at the Japan Patent Office. It is presently being verified via experiments that these peptides actually induce immune system activation. After immunological activation and toxicological safety has been confirmed, clinical trials are planned at Ehime Medical School Hospital.

  

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