OpsoVac™: Increased Efficacy and Antigen Sparing of Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
TLR agonists, are highly potent adjuvants in clinical development as immunotherapies for cancer and vaccines against infectious disease. They act by promoting innate immunity and Th1 responses to co-administered antigens. Significantly, a number of these potential treatments have met with limited success through lack of clinical outcome. In addition, there is a need to reduce the doses of costly antigens required for infectious disease and cancer vaccines.
Opsona scientists have discovered that contrary to current dogma, TLR ligands additionally promote the induction of anti-inflammatory mediators and regulatory T cells. The induction of regulatory T cells, can exacerbate the immunosuppressive conditions, thus effectively counteract the advantageous TLR-induced boost in immune response.
By identifying and blocking the signalling pathways leading to the induction of innate anti-inflammatory mediators and consequently regulatory T cells, we are able to significantly improve the efficacy of TLR agonists. We have demonstrated proof-of-principle in pre-clinical models using TLR agonist-activated dendritic cell immunotherapy against certain resistant cancers and also protective immunity induced with a vaccine against Bordetella pertussis, the causal agent of whooping cough.
Opsona is seeking to develop OpsoVac™ through collaboration with specialist vaccine, immunotherapy and cell therapy companies and has recently announced its first such collaboration with the global specialty biopharmaceutical company CSL Limited. The collaboration covers the identification of novel vaccine adjuvant formulations, based on Opsona's proprietary technology OpsoVac™ which could target infectious diseases and certain cancers. Read latest OpsoVac™ Press Release
Read more about collaboration and partnering opportunities