Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Design and clinical evaluation of a novel self-adjuvanting peptide-based pan influenza A T-cell vaccine

3^rd International Conference on Vaccines & Vaccination

July 29-31, 2013 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, NV, USA

Campbell Bunce

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

I mmune Targeting Systems (ITS) has developed a rationally designed, safe, self-adjuvanting vaccine technology that induces robust cell mediated immune (CMI) responses to peptide antigens. The vaccine concept is based on linking a fluorocarbon chain to long immunogenic peptides. These ?fluoropeptides? bearing specific physico-chemical properties spontaneously form micelles in solution and enhance immunogenicity by the formation of an in vivo short-term depot thereby allowing efficient exposure of peptide antigens to the immune system. ITS? has applied this Depovaccine? technology to its lead programme Flunisyn?, an influenza T cell vaccine designed to target all seasonal and pandemic strains of influenza A. Flunisyn consists of 6 fluoropeptides developed using a proprietary bioinformatics platform. Each fluoropeptide encapsulates multiple CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes, derived from conserved internal influenza proteins, which are predicted to bind to multiple HLA-types thereby granting the vaccine broad population coverage irrespective of ethnicity. Flunisyn? has completed two dose finding studies in young, healthy adult volunteers and recently a third study in the elderly population (median age of 71 years). From the clinical studies, Flunisyn? was demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated across young and old members of the population, inducing a broad cross-reactive anti-viral CMI response to multiple, distinct influenza A viruses (H1N1 to H9N2). These properties offer the unique position for Flunisyn? as a truly pan-influenza A vaccine for seasonal and pandemic use. Flunisyn?s ability to induce a robust immune response in the elderly population is of particular importance where conventional, HA-based influenza vaccines have proven to be poorly effective.

Biography :

Campbell Bunce has a Ph.D. in Immunology awarded by the School of Medicine, University of Manchester, UK. After a post-doctorate at Imperial College, London, he joined the biotechnology sector where he has been developing novel immunomodulating therapies and vaccines for 16 years. Campbell joined ITS as R&D Director in 2009 managing the company through the transition from pre-clinical research to clinical development of the platform Depovaccine technology. Campbell has published a number of papers on T cell immunology and novel immunomodulating technologies.