Findings Published in Journal of Infectious Diseases Shows Genital and Vaginal
HIV-Specific Immune Responses Resulting From Innovative Intranasal
Immunization
CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
The Immune Response Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNRD) announced today the final
results of a study at McMaster University Health Sciences Centre suggesting
that use of REMUNE(R) antigen in combination with oligonucleotides containing
immunostimulatory CpG motifs (CpG ODN) induces HIV-specific immune responses
in genital and vaginal tracts and protected animals from infection after virus
challenge. The study, which was the subject of a previous Company press
release, was designed to ascertain if this approach might be an effective
means of inducing protection and potent immune responses in the genital tract
against infection with HIV-1.
"Our results suggest that REMUNE(R) antigen plus CpG ODN when given as a
intranasal immunization can induce significant levels of HIV-specific immunity
in the genital tract of mice," said Dr. Kenneth L. Rosenthal, lead
investigator of the study at McMaster University Health Sciences Centre in
Hamilton, Canada. "Furthermore, these animals were protected from virus
challenge in the genital tract. These results suggest that a similar approach
should be tested to determine if humans can be protected from sexually
transmitted HIV-1 infection through a intranasal immunization."
The study, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2002;
186:1098-1105), evaluated vaginal and systemic immune responses and protection
from vaginal challenge elicited after intranasal immunization of mice with
REMUNE(R) antigen in combination with CpG ODN. Mice immunized with REMUNE(R)
antigen plus CpG ODN had enhanced levels of anti-p24 IgG and IgA antibodies in
serum and vaginal washes, and increased production of chemokines and
Interferon gamma.
Further the study indicated that intranasal immunization with REMUNE(R)
antigen plus CpG ODN protected mice against intravaginal challenge with a
recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HIV-1 gag, suggesting this might be an
effective means of inducing potent immune responses in the genital tract and
protection against intravaginal infection with HIV-1.
"The use of intranasal immunization represents an innovative method for
delivering a potential HIV vaccine into the mucosal system, which is a primary
defense mechanism against infection," Dr. Rosenthal said. "It represents
significant potential in the ability to more readily administer immunization
to large populations."
In addition to McMaster University Health Sciences Center, collaborators
included The Immune Response Corporation and Coley Pharmaceutical Group in
Ottawa, Canada. The study was conducted under the auspices of the Canadian
Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics (CANVAC).
According to a CANVAC statement, CANVAC researchers would use this animal
model to test which vaccine preparation or combination of vaccine preparations
better protects mice from a genital infection with a recombinant model virus.
The vaccine preparations deemed to better protect the mice from infection with
the model virus could then be tested in small phase I clinical trials in
humans to determine their safety. If successful, the same preparations could
be used in larger phase II and III clinical trials both in North America and
in Africa to determine their safety and assess if and how well they work.
"In our model, mucosal immunization of the upper airways stimulated
mucosal immunity in the genital tract which then was associated with
protection from intravaginal virus challenge," Dr. Rosenthal said. "We are
now studying whether such immune responses are generated to the different
subtypes or clades of HIV found throughout the world, an important question
based on the widening HIV epidemic."
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 in several technology
areas 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, but not limited to, whether the Company will successfully raise
proceeds from financing activities, whether data generated from the McMaster
University Health Sciences Centre study or any previous trials can be
replicated in future clinical trials, whether clinical trials will be
successfully concluded, whether REMUNE(R) will be approved for marketing or be
successfully commercialized and whether the Company will be able to obtain
additional financing. These and other factors are discussed more thoroughly
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 report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002. 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, or 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, or fax,
+1-760-771-2140, info@imnr.com
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