Vaccine
Examples of vaccine projects previously funded by Technology Transfer. See other areas.
Strategic Translation Award
Development of a PorA/FetA protein vaccine to prevent meningococcal disease
Meningitis B (the group B meningococcus) is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in the UK causing up to1500 cases each year and is the leading infectious cause of death in childhood.
Development of a vaccine has been hampered by the lack of immunogenicity of various antigens as well as the variability of the proteins between strains. Professor Andrew Pollard and Professor Martin Maiden at University of Oxford with Professor Jeremy Derrick (Manchester University) and Professor Ian Feavers (National Institute for Biological Standards and Control) have been awarded a Translation Award to develop a promising meningococcal vaccine candidate based on the structuring of surface proteins within hyperinvasive lineages, taking a vaccine composed of a combination of the PorA (porin), and FetA (iron-regulated surface protein) proteins from pre-clinical studies to Phase I clinical trials in humans.
Development of a vaccine has been hampered by the lack of immunogenicity of various antigens as well as the variability of the proteins between strains. Professor Andrew Pollard and Professor Martin Maiden at University of Oxford with Professor Jeremy Derrick (Manchester University) and Professor Ian Feavers (National Institute for Biological Standards and Control) have been awarded a Translation Award to develop a promising meningococcal vaccine candidate based on the structuring of surface proteins within hyperinvasive lineages, taking a vaccine composed of a combination of the PorA (porin), and FetA (iron-regulated surface protein) proteins from pre-clinical studies to Phase I clinical trials in humans.
Strategic Translation Award
Testing a new TB vaccine for potential efficacy in South African infants
TB is one of the world’s biggest killers, causing around 2 million deaths per year, with South Africa being one of the most affected countries. The current vaccine (BCG) is not very effective, especially against lung disease; therefore, MVA85A is designed to enhance the immune response to BCG. The Phase IIb trial in South Africa is due to start shortly and will be the first of the new generation of TB vaccines to enter into trials testing for efficacy. It will involve around 2800 BCG-vaccinated infants, half of whom will receive MVA85A and half of whom will receive a placebo vaccine. The infants will then be followed up for two years to monitor rates of TB in both groups. This trial is being run in collaboration with OETC, the South African TB Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) and the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation, who will be the trial sponsor.
Dr Helen McShane at the University of Oxford and the Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium have received an award to part-fund the first trial of the new TB vaccine candidate, MVA85A.
TB is one of the world’s biggest killers, causing around 2 million deaths per year, with South Africa being one of the most affected countries. The current vaccine (BCG) is not very effective, especially against lung disease; therefore, MVA85A is designed to enhance the immune response to BCG. The Phase IIb trial in South Africa is due to start shortly and will be the first of the new generation of TB vaccines to enter into trials testing for efficacy. It will involve around 2800 BCG-vaccinated infants, half of whom will receive MVA85A and half of whom will receive a placebo vaccine. The infants will then be followed up for two years to monitor rates of TB in both groups. This trial is being run in collaboration with OETC, the South African TB Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) and the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation, who will be the trial sponsor.
See our video: Fighting to end tuberculosis
Strategic Translation Award
The safety and immunogenicity of a single-dose oral typhoid vaccine
Emergent Biosystems UK Ltd aims to clinically evaluate their vaccine, already tested in studies in the UK and US, on healthy Vietnamese adults and children. In conjunction with the Wellcome Trust programme led by Dr Jeremy Farrar in Vietnam, there are also plans to set up a field site in the Mekong Delta region where future phase II and III studies can be carried out to assess whether the vaccine protects against typhoid fever following natural exposure.
Typhoid fever remains a major disease of the developing world. There is currently no available affordable vaccine that offers long-term protection after a single dose.
Emergent Biosystems UK Ltd aims to clinically evaluate their vaccine, already tested in studies in the UK and US, on healthy Vietnamese adults and children. In conjunction with the Wellcome Trust programme led by Dr Jeremy Farrar in Vietnam, there are also plans to set up a field site in the Mekong Delta region where future phase II and III studies can be carried out to assess whether the vaccine protects against typhoid fever following natural exposure.
See also: Malaria Vaccine Trials: tuberculosis, Down in one: Developing a single-dose, drinkable typhoid vaccine
Strategic Translation Award
Conjugate vaccine for typhoid fever caused by the Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A
Currently, there are over 21 million cases of typhoid fever worldwide with no affordable vaccine available offering long-term protection.
The highest incidence of cases and deaths occur in children of developing countries, predominantly in the Indian subcontinent and in South-East Asia. Current antibiotics, once an effective means of treatment, are becoming less useful due to increasing drug resistance. In conjunction with the Wellcome Trust, the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health aims to combat that by leveraging its knowledge from research and development in conjugate vaccines for the development of a bivalent vaccine that protects against both S.Typhi and S.Paratyphi A; two very similar illness which - if left untreated - can result in complications and death, particularly in young children and the immuno-compromised. Such a vaccine will target molecules on the surface of the bacteria, which will be made more immunogenic by linking them with a protein carrier that is used in many childhood vaccines. The NVGH research will build upon a promising prototype conjugate vaccine developed by the National Institutes of Health. The research team, led by Dr Laura Martin, aims to have a product ready for clinical trials by the end of 2010. This vaccine will be tested in Europe first and subsequently in the developing countries where it is most needed.
The highest incidence of cases and deaths occur in children of developing countries, predominantly in the Indian subcontinent and in South-East Asia. Current antibiotics, once an effective means of treatment, are becoming less useful due to increasing drug resistance. In conjunction with the Wellcome Trust, the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health aims to combat that by leveraging its knowledge from research and development in conjugate vaccines for the development of a bivalent vaccine that protects against both S.Typhi and S.Paratyphi A; two very similar illness which - if left untreated - can result in complications and death, particularly in young children and the immuno-compromised. Such a vaccine will target molecules on the surface of the bacteria, which will be made more immunogenic by linking them with a protein carrier that is used in many childhood vaccines. The NVGH research will build upon a promising prototype conjugate vaccine developed by the National Institutes of Health. The research team, led by Dr Laura Martin, aims to have a product ready for clinical trials by the end of 2010. This vaccine will be tested in Europe first and subsequently in the developing countries where it is most needed.
Translation Award
Therapeutic CD8+ T cell-biased vaccines for human visceral leishmaniasis
Visceral leishmaniasis leads to approximately 70 000 reported deaths annually (though actual deaths are estimated at 4-5 times this figure).
Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasites Leishmania donovani and L.infantum. With resistance against existing treatments high or developing, and affordable second-line treatments limited, the development of new preventative and/or therapeutic measures is a major international research priority. In spite of much effort, CD4+ T cell-biased vaccines have so far failed to deliver significant levels of protective immunity in man. An international research team, led by Professor Paul Kaye at the University of York has been awarded funding to develop a novel therapeutic vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis, targeting the induction/re-activation of CD8+ T cells. The study will identify the most appropriate molecule/vector combination and confirm safety in UK volunteers. This study is an essential step in the process of developing a new vaccine, to reduce deaths from visceral leishmaniasis.
Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasites Leishmania donovani and L.infantum. With resistance against existing treatments high or developing, and affordable second-line treatments limited, the development of new preventative and/or therapeutic measures is a major international research priority. In spite of much effort, CD4+ T cell-biased vaccines have so far failed to deliver significant levels of protective immunity in man. An international research team, led by Professor Paul Kaye at the University of York has been awarded funding to develop a novel therapeutic vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis, targeting the induction/re-activation of CD8+ T cells. The study will identify the most appropriate molecule/vector combination and confirm safety in UK volunteers. This study is an essential step in the process of developing a new vaccine, to reduce deaths from visceral leishmaniasis.