WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq:GNBT) (www.generex.com) today announced publication of pre-clinical studies conducted to identify vaccine peptides for the potentially pandemic H5N1 avian influenza virus. The report is the result of a collaboration between scientists at Antigen Express, Inc. (www.antigenexpress.com), Generex's wholly-owned immunotherapeutics subsidiary, and Dr. John Treanor (Professor of Medicine, and of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester).
The study, entitled: "Identification of HLA class II H5N1 hemagglutinin epitopes following subvirion influenza A (H5N1) vaccination," appears in the journal Vaccine. Vaccine is the pre-eminent journal for those interested in vaccines and vaccination. It serves as an interface between academics, those in research and development, and workers in the field. Relevant topics range from basic research through to applications, safety and legislation. Peer-reviewed articles containing primary, original observations as well as reviews appear in the journal.
The Antigen Express study utilizes its proprietary Ii-Key technology as well as a broad screening technique to identify fragments of the H5N1 avian influenza virus with the potential to act as vaccine peptides. Specifically, T cells from the peripheral blood of volunteers who received the traditional egg-based H5N1 vaccine and developed a documented immune response were used for these studies. As a measure of peptide potency, cytokine release by T cells in response to challenge with individual peptides was measured. The results of these studies are helpful in guiding and optimizing synthetic peptide vaccines for pandemic or potentially pandemic influenza viruses, a platform being pioneered by Antigen Express.
The advantage of the synthetic peptide vaccine platform is that vaccines can be made more rapidly, in larger amounts and at inexpensive cost relative to egg- or cell-based manufacturing methods. Antigen Express technology focuses on antigen-specific stimulation of T helper cells. This cell type has been shown to be crucial in developing a robust immune response to a novel pathogenic agent.
Over 120 volunteers have been immunized with Antigen Express's proprietary vaccine peptides as part of a Phase I trial to generate a response against the H5N1 avian influenza. The vaccine peptides appear to be safe and well tolerated. In addition to the H5N1 trial, immunotherapeutic peptides designed by the same Antigen Express technology are being tested in a Phase II efficacy trial in breast cancer patients and a Phase I trial in patients with breast or ovarian cancer.
