A collaborator of Vandalia Research announced pre-clinical results from two proprietary DNA-based universal influenza vaccine candidates using electroporation delivery and a new intradermal device
Inovio Biomedical is enabling the development of DNA vaccines using a proprietary electroporation-based DNA delivery platform.
In this study, 100% of the immunised mice given a lethal challenge of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus (A/Vietnam/1203/04) survived and showed only minor weight loss.
Inovio tested both traditional plasmid-based DNA and Vandalia Research's Triathlon-produced DNA (linear expression cassettes, or LECs) and achieved similar results.
The DNA vaccine design was based on a different influenza strain (H1N1) than the influenza strain used in the challenge, providing evidence that a universal vaccine based on conserved genes common to multiple strains of seasonal influenza and even potential pandemic influenza may have the possibility to provide widespread protection against such viruses.
These results were presented by Michael Fons, VP corporate development, on 15 July 2008 at the Controlled Release Society 35th annual meeting and exposition.
According to Inovio, fully synthetic linear expressing cassettes (LEC), or linear constructs, produced by Vandalia Research, represent a new type of carrier mechanism for the genes that comprise a DNA vaccine.
Numerous clinical studies have provided evidence that DNA plasmids are inexpensive, safe, and effective for delivering DNA vaccines.
LECs are a next generation of synthetic DNA constructs that are easier, faster and cheaper to make, while providing equivalent utility.
