SEATTLE, WA and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I October 29, 2015 I Immune Design (Nasdaq:IMDZ), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on oncology, today highlighted the application of its GLAASTM discovery platform in MedImmune’s Phase 2 clinical trial of MEDI7510. MEDI7510 is an investigational agent for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) under development by MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. MEDI7510 is composed of MedImmune’s RSV sF antigen plus GLA, a synthetic molecule licensed from Immune Design’s GLAAS discovery platform.
This stems from an existing agreement in which Immune Design granted MedImmune an exclusive license to use the GLAAS platform to develop and commercialize vaccines in two different infectious disease indications, one of which is RSV.
The Phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (NCT02508194) is designed to assess the efficacy of MEDI7510 for the prevention of acute RSV-associated respiratory illness in older adults. The study will also evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of MEDI7510 or placebo and immune response to MEDI7510 in Season 1 and Season 2. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 1,900 adult subjects, 60 years or older, globally.
“It’s rewarding to see MEDI7510 continue to advance through clinical development,” said Carlos Paya, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Immune Design. “The field of RSV vaccines has been challenging. A small molecule that activates TLR4 and drives a Th1-type of immune response should be ideally suited to overcome the Th2-prone activity of RSV antigens, which can result in severe lung pathology. We are hopeful of the potential benefit MEDI7510 may bring to older adults.”
ABOUT RSV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause upper and lower respiratory infections, including colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. RSV is increasingly recognized as an important cause of respiratory infections in adults, particularly affecting the elderly, immunocompromised, and those with underlying chronic cardiopulmonary disease. For example, RSV is estimated to infect 5%–10% of nursing home residents per year, with rates of pneumonia and death of 10%–20% and 2%–5%, respectively (Falsy, Clin Microbiol Rev 2000). Currently no vaccine is available for RSV and induction of a Th1 type immune response is viewed as an important feature for any successful vaccine candidate.
About GLAAS
Immune Design’s GLAAS platform works in vivo and is based on a small synthetic molecule called GLA, which stands for glucopyranosyl lipid A. GLA selectively binds to the TLR4 receptor and causes potent activation of dendritic cells (DCs). When GLA is accompanied by an antigen and injected into a patient, the combination is taken up by DCs and leads to the production and expansion of immune cells called CD4 T helper lymphocytes. These CD4 cells play a key role in boosting the anti-tumor immune response by expanding the number and function of existing CTLs that are specific to the same antigen and providing help to other immune cells, including B lymphocytes that are the precursor to antibodies and natural killer cells that are also important in the overall immune response. In addition to infectious diseases, Immune Design believes that GLAAS product candidates have the potential to target multiple types of cancer and allergic diseases.
About Immune Design
Immune Design is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company employing next-generation in vivo approaches to enable the body’s immune system to fight disease. The company’s technologies are engineered to activate the immune system’s natural ability to generate and/or expand antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, while also enhancing other immune effectors, to fight cancer and other chronic diseases. CMB305 and G100, the primary focus of Immune Design’s ongoing immuno-oncology clinical programs, are products of its two synergistic discovery platforms, ZVexTM and GLAASTM, the fundamental technologies of which were licensed from the California Institute of Technology and the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), respectively. Immune Design has offices in Seattle and South San Francisco. For more information, visit www.immunedesign.com.
SOURCE: Immune Design
Post Views: 67
SEATTLE, WA and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I October 29, 2015 I Immune Design (Nasdaq:IMDZ), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on oncology, today highlighted the application of its GLAASTM discovery platform in MedImmune’s Phase 2 clinical trial of MEDI7510. MEDI7510 is an investigational agent for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) under development by MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. MEDI7510 is composed of MedImmune’s RSV sF antigen plus GLA, a synthetic molecule licensed from Immune Design’s GLAAS discovery platform.
This stems from an existing agreement in which Immune Design granted MedImmune an exclusive license to use the GLAAS platform to develop and commercialize vaccines in two different infectious disease indications, one of which is RSV.
The Phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (NCT02508194) is designed to assess the efficacy of MEDI7510 for the prevention of acute RSV-associated respiratory illness in older adults. The study will also evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of MEDI7510 or placebo and immune response to MEDI7510 in Season 1 and Season 2. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 1,900 adult subjects, 60 years or older, globally.
“It’s rewarding to see MEDI7510 continue to advance through clinical development,” said Carlos Paya, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Immune Design. “The field of RSV vaccines has been challenging. A small molecule that activates TLR4 and drives a Th1-type of immune response should be ideally suited to overcome the Th2-prone activity of RSV antigens, which can result in severe lung pathology. We are hopeful of the potential benefit MEDI7510 may bring to older adults.”
ABOUT RSV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause upper and lower respiratory infections, including colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. RSV is increasingly recognized as an important cause of respiratory infections in adults, particularly affecting the elderly, immunocompromised, and those with underlying chronic cardiopulmonary disease. For example, RSV is estimated to infect 5%–10% of nursing home residents per year, with rates of pneumonia and death of 10%–20% and 2%–5%, respectively (Falsy, Clin Microbiol Rev 2000). Currently no vaccine is available for RSV and induction of a Th1 type immune response is viewed as an important feature for any successful vaccine candidate.
About GLAAS
Immune Design’s GLAAS platform works in vivo and is based on a small synthetic molecule called GLA, which stands for glucopyranosyl lipid A. GLA selectively binds to the TLR4 receptor and causes potent activation of dendritic cells (DCs). When GLA is accompanied by an antigen and injected into a patient, the combination is taken up by DCs and leads to the production and expansion of immune cells called CD4 T helper lymphocytes. These CD4 cells play a key role in boosting the anti-tumor immune response by expanding the number and function of existing CTLs that are specific to the same antigen and providing help to other immune cells, including B lymphocytes that are the precursor to antibodies and natural killer cells that are also important in the overall immune response. In addition to infectious diseases, Immune Design believes that GLAAS product candidates have the potential to target multiple types of cancer and allergic diseases.
About Immune Design
Immune Design is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company employing next-generation in vivo approaches to enable the body’s immune system to fight disease. The company’s technologies are engineered to activate the immune system’s natural ability to generate and/or expand antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells, while also enhancing other immune effectors, to fight cancer and other chronic diseases. CMB305 and G100, the primary focus of Immune Design’s ongoing immuno-oncology clinical programs, are products of its two synergistic discovery platforms, ZVexTM and GLAASTM, the fundamental technologies of which were licensed from the California Institute of Technology and the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), respectively. Immune Design has offices in Seattle and South San Francisco. For more information, visit www.immunedesign.com.
SOURCE: Immune Design
Post Views: 67
