Animal Testing Suggests Cell Mediated Responses to HIV Induced
After Vaccination
CARLSBAD, Calif., June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Following the recent
announcement suggesting increased HIV-specific immunity in primates through
use of a new HIV combination vaccine,
The Immune Response Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR) today announced results of a
study published in the journal Vaccine (20, 2002, 2684-92), which suggested a
combination of REMUNE(R) and immuno-stimulatory DNA was able to shift the
immune response from an antibody mediated response (Th2) to a cell mediated
response (Th1) in mice infected with the parasite Schistosoma.
"The data suggests that REMUNE(R) in combination with CpG ODN
immunostimulatory DNA induces HIV specific immune responses in preclinical
studies. Following the recently announced monkey study, conducted in
collaboration with the Southern Research Institute, the Jonas Salk Foundation
and the National Institutes of Health, this animal study further supports the
combination vaccine approach and reinforces our belief in the importance of
REMUNE(R)," said Dr. Dennis Carlo, President and Chief Executive Officer for
The Immune Response Corporation. "In light of the devastation AIDS is causing
across the developing world, there is a crucial need for additional testing
and study, including clinical human trials, in order to determine whether this
approach can be useful in countries facing the HIV epidemic."
In the test, mice infected with the parasite Schistosoma were immunized
with REMUNE(R) and CpG ODN immunostimulatory DNA and showed significantly
lower levels of Th2 related substances and increased levels of Th1 related
substances such as the cytokine gamma interferon.
According to the published findings, the authors examined "the capacity of
a synthetic CpG ODN to induce and/or enhance Th1 immune responses to the
co-administered whole killed, gp120-depleted HIV-1 antigen (REMUNE(R)), in
Schistosoma mansoni infected mice, with a pre-existent dominant Th2 immune
profile. Our results showing that a specific Th1 immune response against
HIV-1 can be generated in such schistosoma infected mice, following
immunization with REMUNE(R) combined with CpG ODN has prompted this report."
The authors noted that "The relevance and implication of these findings to
the situation in the developing world are obvious and very encouraging,
especially in view of the difficulty in eradication of parasitic infections.
We suggest that the addition of CpG immunostimulatory sequences to HIV
antigens in IFA may optimize HIV specific immune responses, and therefore
should be included in future trials of REMUNE(R) and other candidate HIV-1
vaccines."
"These findings support the concept of testing REMUNE(R) in the presence
of immunostimulating CpG ODN in a human population with a strong pre-existent
Th2 immune profile. In other words, individuals with parasitic infections in
developing countries could possibly be ideal candidates for immunization with
this combination vaccine," said Dr. Ronald B. Moss, co-author of the study and
Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs for The Immune Response
Corporation.
"Currently, many researchers believe that cell mediated responses, rather
than antibody mediated responses, are critical to the development of both
preventive and therapeutic vaccines for HIV-1," Moss said.
Entitled, "Generation of Th1 immune responses to inactivated gp120-
depleted HIV-1 in mice with a dominant Th2 biased immune profile via
immunostimulatory oligonucleotides -- relevance to AIDS vaccines in developing
countries," the study was a collaboration with work done by researchers at
Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School with vaccine supplied by The Immune
Response Corporation. The article can be found at
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/vaccine .
Co-founded by medical pioneer, Dr. Jonas Salk and based in Carlsbad,
California, The Immune Response Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company
developing immune-based therapies designed to treat HIV, autoimmune diseases
and cancer. The Company also develops and holds patents on several
technologies that can be applied to genes in order to increase gene expression
or effectiveness, making it useful in a wide range of therapeutic applications
for a variety of disorders. Company information also is available at
http://www.imnr.com .
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results
could vary materially from those expected due to a variety of risk factors,
including the uncertainty of successful completion of clinical trials, whether
REMUNE(R) is effective as either a preventive or therapeutic vaccine, whether
future trials will be conducted, whether the results of REMUNE(R) in clinical
trials will coincide with the results of REMUNE(R) in preclinical trials, and
those risks set forth from time to time in The Immune Response Corporation's
SEC filings, including but not limited to its report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2001 and subsequent Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-
looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after
the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
REMUNE(R) is a registered trademark of The Immune Response Corporation.
SOURCE The Immune Response Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.imnr.com
CONTACT:
Media, James Lee of The Lee Strategy Group,
+1-310-229-5771, fax, +1-310-229-5772, jlee@leestrategy.com, for
The Immune Response Corporation; or Investors, Kathy Lane of The
Immune Response Corporation, +1-760-771-2236, fax,
+1-760-771-2140, info@imnr.com
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