The company said it expects to commence human clinical trials of its Ebola vaccine in the first quarter of 2015.
A preclinical study has been conducted at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), which found that Vaxart's Ebola vaccine candidate demonstrated protective efficacy against a challenge with Ebola virus. The candidate is designed to generate an immune response against the Ebola GP protein. Other researchers have shown this immune response to be protective against challenge with Ebola when administered by injection in non-human primates. Vaxart added that its vaccine cannot cause an Ebola infection as it does not contain any whole killed or weakened Ebola virus.
Based on Vaxart's proprietary oral vaccine delivery platform, the Ebola vaccine candidate is a disabled virus (non-replicating adenovirus type 5, or Ad5) that co-delivers the gene for the specific vaccine antigen and the gene for a TLR3 ligand that functions as an adjuvant to amplify the immune response. Administered orally, this platform can be used to induce a selective and robust immune response to any recombinant antigen, regardless of pre-existing immunity to Ad5.
In addition, Vaxart said its tablet vaccines can be held at room temperature for more than twelve months, a significant advantage in distribution and administration of the vaccines in areas with limited infrastructure as the need for cold storage is reduced or even eliminated.
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