N4 Pharma plc (AIM: N4P) has formed a research collaboration with the University of Adelaide (UoA) to help advance a novel DNA vaccine, the pharmaceutical company revealed on Tuesday.
N4 Pharma, which is developing silica nanoparticles for vaccines and therapeutics, has commissioned a research programme with UoA's Gowans laboratory to investigate the potential of the company's Nuvec system to increase the efficacy of the university's novel cytolytic DNA vaccine.
This vaccine encodes an immunogen and a cytolytic protein (perforin), and has been shown 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), N4 Pharma explained.
Despite UoA showing improved immunogenicity with its cytolytic DNA vaccine, the immune response is not sufficient to proceed into clinical trials. The purpose of the new research collaboration is to determine if the use of Nuvec can further increase the efficacy of the vaccine in vivo.
This work will not result in any financial benefit to the company and the research costs of approximately GBP30,000 will be borne by N4 Pharma.
The first phase of the study will test the delivery efficacy of combining the UoA cytolytic DNA vaccine with Nuvec. This will take around four weeks and will be followed by immunogenicity studies using different models, taking a further 24 weeks.
genedrive secures initial overseas orders for Genedrive MT-RNR1 ID kit
Kromek collaborates on next-gen CT detector technology
Gilead Sciences initiates Phase 2 trial in Europe to evaluate lenacapavir for HIV prevention
European Commission grants authorisation to ViiV Healthcare's Apretude for prevention of HIV
Celanese to supply VitalDose drug delivery platform for Population Council's MPT Intravaginal Ring
Henry Schein introduces equipment repair subscription - Henry Schein Thrive Service Plus
Seres Therapeutics provides business updates and reports Q2 2023 financial results