Bionor's latest HIV vaccine, Vacc-C5, is ready to go into therapeutic clinical trials at Oslo University Hospital. Vacc-C5 acts by reducing immune hyperactivation, which damages the immune system and leads to AIDS. The vaccine has potential to slow down or stop disease progression.
The study, a Phase I/II trial, will look at three doses given intradermally (under the skin) along with an adjuvant and will check safety, as well as helping to work out the best dose. It will involve 36 people who have been HIV-positive for at least a year and are stable on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
"The pre-clinical studies of Vacc-C5 in rabbits, and sheep, as well as data confirming an association between high antibody levels and slow progression of HIV in humans have generated considerable interest," said Dr. Dag Kvale, the principal investigator at Oslo University Hospital. "We look forward to see how people living with HIV respond when on Vacc-C5."
Vacc-C5 and Vacc-C4, Bionor's therapeutic vaccine also in clinical trials, have different modes of action and the two vaccines may be able to work together. Once dose levels of Vacc-C5 are confirmed, the company plans to study them in combination. Vacc-C5 also may have the potential as a preventive vaccine, alone or in combination with Vacc-4x.
"Where Vacc-4x appears to kill virus-producing cells, Vacc-C5 has the potential to reduce the damaging immune activation," said EVP Head of Vaccines Birger Sørensen.
- read the press release