Nanoemulsion Adjuvanted Vaccines Continue to Demonstrate Positive Pre-Clinical Results in Genital Herpes, HIV and Chlamydia
ANN ARBOR, Mich., (December 2, 2015) – NanoBio Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing intranasal and intramuscular vaccines, today announced that its intranasal nanoemulsion (NE) adjuvanted chlamydia vaccine has demonstrated efficacy in a traditional mouse challenge model. The study was conducted by leading chlamydia vaccine researchers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia led by Dr. Kenneth Beagley, Professor of Immunology.
Chlamydia is one of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases in the United States and globally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 2.86 million infections occur annually. Often referred to as a "silent" infection, estimates suggest 90 percent of women with chlamydia have no symptoms and therefore do not seek treatment. If untreated, a significant percentage of women develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that can lead to lifelong complications including infertility, ectopic pregnancies and chronic pelvic pain. Untreated chlamydia also increases the likelihood of acquiring or transmitting HIV. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent the spread of chlamydia.
In the pre-clinical study conducted at QUT, mice received three administrations of an intranasal NE vaccine and were then subsequently challenged intra-vaginally with chlamydia. The study's principal endpoint measured oviduct pathology as an indicator of PID. 100 percent of mice receiving no treatment developed oviduct pathology in the study versus just 20 percent of mice receiving the NE vaccine (p<0.001). Animals that received the NE vaccine generated high levels of both serum and vaginal antibodies (IgG and IgA), strong IL-17 and interferon gamma responses, and had faster clearing of the bacteria, as compared to the no treatment control mice.
"Based on many years of research focused on chlamydia transmission and prevention, our findings indicate that the use of mucosal vaccination provides the best hope for the development of a vaccine to protect against chlamydia," stated Dr. Kenneth Beagley, Professor of Immunology at QUT. "The initial study with NanoBio demonstrated exciting results from an intranasal NE vaccine incorporating a generic chlamydia protein. With these results in hand, we are now beginning to test additional chlamydia antigens combined with the intranasal NE adjuvant in mice and larger animal models."
David Peralta, Chief Executive Officer of NanoBio added, "The results of the chlamydia study further validate the opportunity for intranasal NE vaccines to play a key role in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. We have now observed positive results in animal studies for three STDs—genital herpes, HIV and chlamydia. Our research has demonstrated the critical importance of eliciting both mucosal and systemic immunity to protect against some of the most concerning pathogens that enter the body across mucosal surfaces."
About NanoBio
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, NanoBio® Corporation is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing vaccines and anti-infective treatments derived from its patented NanoStat® technology platform. The company's NanoStat® vaccine technology employs a novel oil-in-water nanoemulsion (NE) that can incorporate, deliver and adjuvant multiple antigen types. The NE adjuvant is effective when administered via intranasal or intramuscular vaccination. When applied intranasally, NE vaccines elicit both mucosal and systemic immunity.
NanoBio is currently developing intranasal NE vaccines for several respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases, including pertussis, pandemic influenza, anthrax, prophylactic and therapeutic HSV2, chlamydia and HIV. In addition, the company has licensed its NE adjuvant to Merck for use in RSV and seasonal influenza vaccines.
For more information on NanoBio or its products, please visit www.nanobio.com.