PLEASANTON, Calif., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc. today announced the award of a two-year Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The effort will seek the development of next generation Influenza A vaccines with an emphasis on avian influenza (Bird Flu). The studies are being conducted in collaboration with David Lewis, M.D. at Stanford University. The proposal also anticipates the testing of prototype vaccines against avian influenza (H5N1) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA.
This NIH-funded project involves the use of Juvaris’ proprietary JuvaVax(TM) vaccine platform containing an inactivated Influenza A virus. The JuvaVax(TM)-Influenza A vaccine is capable of activating both substantial antibody and cellular immune responses, which are important for protection against acute virus infection as well as for providing cross-protection against other influenza viral strains. In this regard, testing of a prototype vaccine will be conducted at the CDC against an avian influenza (H5N1) viral isolate. The JuvaVax(TM)-Influenza A vaccine is anticipated to be especially effective in older (>65 years) individuals due to its underlying increased immune activation capability.
Influenza A virus infection causes substantial illness and death worldwide with more than 200,000 annual hospitalizations in the United States. Influenza A virus primarily replicates in the respiratory tract, with highly virulent strains also spreading to other tissues, such as the central nervous system. A growing concern is the recent spread in Asia of highly virulent avian influenza virus, such as H5N1, which could substantially increase the risk of a human pandemic. Sporadic cases of avian-to-human transmission, with a high mortality rate (>50%) have recently occurred. The Influenza A virus is also a potential bioterror agent because of its ability to readily undergo natural or programmed genetic changes resulting in increased virulence and enhanced spread by airborne exposure.
“We are pleased to be working on the development of vaccines for Influenza A, and particularly avian influenza, with the support of NIAID and the CDC,” said Martin D. Cleary, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Juvaris. “This is an entirely new approach, now benefiting from interaction with the Nation’s leading research institutions. Our preclinical studies have been very encouraging and may allow for the development of vaccines that can provide simultaneous protection against different influenza strains and emerging threats such as avian influenza. In addition, JuvaVax(TM) vaccines may be of considerable benefit to the World’s elderly population where the medical need is critical.”
About Juvaris
Juvaris BioTherapeutics was created in 2003 to develop an immunotherapeutic product platform for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancers using lipid-DNA complexes. Cationic lipids are formulated with non-coding DNA (plasmid) to create JuvImmune(TM), a lipid-DNA complex, which as a single product will have utility in multiple cancer and infectious disease applications. The JuvImmune(TM) product has been shown to be at least 50-times more potent at triggering innate immune activation and interferon release than current immune stimulants.
When combined with disease-specific antigens, the technology creates JuvaVax(TM) vaccines capable of activating substantial antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses, particularly induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Immunological responses elicited by the lipid-DNA complexes have been successfully demonstrated in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings in a variety of mammals including rodents, rabbits, cats, dogs and non-human primates. Moreover, substantial immune responses have been induced following oral and intranasal administration. This platform provides the opportunity to develop many disease-specific immunotherapy products, for which there are significant unmet medical needs.
The Company encourages investment and partnering inquiries, including this project, and can be reached at its website @ www.juvaris.com.
Contact: Martin D. Cleary Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc. 925.399.6200 mdcleary@juvaris.com
Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc.
CONTACT: Martin D. Cleary of Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc.,+1-925-399-6200, mdcleary@juvaris.com
Web site: http://www.juvaris.com/
