Broadly protective properties of VIS410, a novel engineered human antibody, presented at the Options for the Control of Influenza conference in Cape Town, South Africa
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I September 9, 2013 I Visterra, Inc., developer of novel therapeutics to treat major infectious diseases, today announced that its Chief Medical Officer, Donna Ambrosino, M.D., presented data on VIS410 at the Options for the Control of Influenza, an international conference held every three years, taking place this year in Cape Town, South Africa on September 5-9, 2013.
The preclinical data presented at the Options conference showed broadly protective properties of VIS410 as an effective preventive and therapeutic investigational agent against influenza A subtypes. In the preclinical study, VIS410 had an additive effect when used in combination with anti-viral drugs in the treatment of influenza. These data build on the body of existing studies that have shown the efficacy of VIS410 against a broad range of influenza A strains, including H1N1, H5N1 and H3N2. Developed using Visterra’s innovative technology, VIS410 is designed to be a broadly protective, fully human monoclonal antibody that targets a site on influenza hemagglutinin (HA) that is present across all influenza A subtypes, and is resistant to mutation.
“VIS410 continues to demonstrate highly encouraging results across the spectrum of influenza A strains, and further supports Visterra’s plans to develop VIS410 as a new universal approach to combat both seasonal and pandemic influenza,” said Dr. Ambrosino.
“We are pleased to be among the global leaders in influenza at the Options conference and to be sharing the exciting results that suggest that VIS410 offers a novel approach to influenza and potential pandemic threats,” said Brian J. G. Pereira, M.D., CEO of Visterra.
Highlights of the VIS410 preclinical data presented at the Options demonstrated that VIS410 has favorable properties to be effective in prevention as well as treatment of influenza, including:
- VIS410 protected against death in a severe H3N2 influenza mouse model and had additive efficacy when administered in combination with the anti-viral agent, oseltamivir.
- VIS410 reduced the spread of influenza via respiratory droplets in a ferret model, at serum concentrations that are easily achievable in humans.
About Influenza
Influenza virus infection is one of the most common infectious diseases, which can lead to severe illness and death. Influenza epidemics occur yearly during autumn and winter, resulting in about three to five million cases of severe illness, and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide. Although the usual strains of influenza that circulate annually are a significant public health concern, far more lethal influenza strains have emerged periodically, some leading to pandemics. Recently, both H5N1 and H7N9 isolates have emerged in humans causing severe disease with high mortality, although only limited human to human transmission has been observed thus far. However, predicted mutations in both H5 and H7 strains have been described that would enhance human to human transmission, creating pandemic potential. Finally, increased concern for H7N9 is fueled by data that the strains are more readily transmitted from poultry to humans compared to other avian influenza viruses, and also the documentation of resistance to anti-viral drugs1,2.
About VIS410
VIS410 is a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize all influenza A strains and offers potential for both prevention and treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. Although safe and effective vaccines have been available and used for more than 60 years and effectively used for the general population, influenza viruses are constantly changing, and the annual vaccine is developed based on a prediction of the most prominent strains each season. Further challenges are emerging with novel influenza viruses such as H7N9. A universally effective monoclonal antibody, such as VIS410, could be immediately available and could be utilized for containment strategies, and prevention as well as treatment for strains causing severe disease. VIS410 is being developed for clinical studies and expected to enter clinical trials in 2014. The unique epitope that VIS410 targets also holds promise for the development of a universal vaccine.
About Visterra
Visterra discovers and develops novel antibodies for the prevention and treatment of major infectious diseases. The company’s proprietary antibody engineering technology generates unique structural information that identifies novel target epitopes (sites recognized by antibodies) and guides the design of antibodies which specifically target these epitopes to effectively combat disease. The company’s lead antibody product candidate, VIS410, is a broad spectrum monoclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of both seasonal and pandemic influenza. The company is building a proprietary pipeline of novel antibodies in infectious disease, and continuing to expand its disease area focus through strategic partnerships. The company announced an antibody discovery collaboration deal with Pfizer in September, 2012 and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November, 2012. Visterra was founded based on the scientific work of Dr. Ram Sasisekharan at MIT, and is currently backed by Polaris Partners, Flagship Ventures, Lux Capital, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Omega Funds. For more information please visit www.visterrainc.com.
SOURCE: Visterra
Post Views: 17
Broadly protective properties of VIS410, a novel engineered human antibody, presented at the Options for the Control of Influenza conference in Cape Town, South Africa
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I September 9, 2013 I Visterra, Inc., developer of novel therapeutics to treat major infectious diseases, today announced that its Chief Medical Officer, Donna Ambrosino, M.D., presented data on VIS410 at the Options for the Control of Influenza, an international conference held every three years, taking place this year in Cape Town, South Africa on September 5-9, 2013.
The preclinical data presented at the Options conference showed broadly protective properties of VIS410 as an effective preventive and therapeutic investigational agent against influenza A subtypes. In the preclinical study, VIS410 had an additive effect when used in combination with anti-viral drugs in the treatment of influenza. These data build on the body of existing studies that have shown the efficacy of VIS410 against a broad range of influenza A strains, including H1N1, H5N1 and H3N2. Developed using Visterra’s innovative technology, VIS410 is designed to be a broadly protective, fully human monoclonal antibody that targets a site on influenza hemagglutinin (HA) that is present across all influenza A subtypes, and is resistant to mutation.
“VIS410 continues to demonstrate highly encouraging results across the spectrum of influenza A strains, and further supports Visterra’s plans to develop VIS410 as a new universal approach to combat both seasonal and pandemic influenza,” said Dr. Ambrosino.
“We are pleased to be among the global leaders in influenza at the Options conference and to be sharing the exciting results that suggest that VIS410 offers a novel approach to influenza and potential pandemic threats,” said Brian J. G. Pereira, M.D., CEO of Visterra.
Highlights of the VIS410 preclinical data presented at the Options demonstrated that VIS410 has favorable properties to be effective in prevention as well as treatment of influenza, including:
- VIS410 protected against death in a severe H3N2 influenza mouse model and had additive efficacy when administered in combination with the anti-viral agent, oseltamivir.
- VIS410 reduced the spread of influenza via respiratory droplets in a ferret model, at serum concentrations that are easily achievable in humans.
About Influenza
Influenza virus infection is one of the most common infectious diseases, which can lead to severe illness and death. Influenza epidemics occur yearly during autumn and winter, resulting in about three to five million cases of severe illness, and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide. Although the usual strains of influenza that circulate annually are a significant public health concern, far more lethal influenza strains have emerged periodically, some leading to pandemics. Recently, both H5N1 and H7N9 isolates have emerged in humans causing severe disease with high mortality, although only limited human to human transmission has been observed thus far. However, predicted mutations in both H5 and H7 strains have been described that would enhance human to human transmission, creating pandemic potential. Finally, increased concern for H7N9 is fueled by data that the strains are more readily transmitted from poultry to humans compared to other avian influenza viruses, and also the documentation of resistance to anti-viral drugs1,2.
About VIS410
VIS410 is a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize all influenza A strains and offers potential for both prevention and treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. Although safe and effective vaccines have been available and used for more than 60 years and effectively used for the general population, influenza viruses are constantly changing, and the annual vaccine is developed based on a prediction of the most prominent strains each season. Further challenges are emerging with novel influenza viruses such as H7N9. A universally effective monoclonal antibody, such as VIS410, could be immediately available and could be utilized for containment strategies, and prevention as well as treatment for strains causing severe disease. VIS410 is being developed for clinical studies and expected to enter clinical trials in 2014. The unique epitope that VIS410 targets also holds promise for the development of a universal vaccine.
About Visterra
Visterra discovers and develops novel antibodies for the prevention and treatment of major infectious diseases. The company’s proprietary antibody engineering technology generates unique structural information that identifies novel target epitopes (sites recognized by antibodies) and guides the design of antibodies which specifically target these epitopes to effectively combat disease. The company’s lead antibody product candidate, VIS410, is a broad spectrum monoclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of both seasonal and pandemic influenza. The company is building a proprietary pipeline of novel antibodies in infectious disease, and continuing to expand its disease area focus through strategic partnerships. The company announced an antibody discovery collaboration deal with Pfizer in September, 2012 and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November, 2012. Visterra was founded based on the scientific work of Dr. Ram Sasisekharan at MIT, and is currently backed by Polaris Partners, Flagship Ventures, Lux Capital, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Omega Funds. For more information please visit www.visterrainc.com.
SOURCE: Visterra
Post Views: 17
