3rd Australasian Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Development
Commercial Development of Vaccines
Clinical Development of the HIV Therapeutic Vaccine (VIR201)
L. Ward
Virax Holdings Limited, Kew, VIC, Australia
The Melbourne based biotechnology Virax is developing therapeutic vaccines based upon live viral vectors that co-express disease antigens and cytokines. The utility of the technology has been exemplified with clinical development of three products: a HIV Therapeutuc vaccine VIR201 (Fowlpox virus expressing gag/pol and IFN-gamma) and two cancer vaccines being developed by the French based biopharmaceutical company, Transgene. Transgene utilises the co-expression technology as part of a licensing agreement with Virax for use of MVA vectors for particular cancer applications. Two proof on concept trials of VIR201 in Australia have been successfully completed with promising antiretrovirological activity being observed for VIR201. A larger trial is currently underway in South Africa to further assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of VIR201. The clinical development status for these therapeutic vaccines will be reported andimplications for future development of recombinant live viral vectors discussed
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