Generex Biotechnology's Subsidiary Enters into Collaboration to Develop SARS Vaccine

Antigen Express to join with Leading Chinese Expert on SARS

25-Feb-2004

Toronto. Generex Biotechnology Corporation announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Dr. Bing Sun of the Chinese Academy of Science (IBC) in Shanghai to develop a SARS vaccine. Dr. Sun has done pioneering work isolating SARS genes which can be used in a DNA vaccine. Antigen Express, Generex's subsidiary, has developed proprietary and patented technologies to enhance the potency of DNA vaccines. Together they seek to create an effective DNA vaccine for protection against SARS infections.

Antigen Express' technology focuses on modulating immune responses mediated by T helper cells, a class of lymphocytes that plays many roles in the immune system, both enhancing and suppressing immune responses. T helper cells are essential for obtaining both robust and long lasting responses against infections, cancer and against specific antigens which are encoded in DNA vaccines.

"The heart of the Antigen Express technology platform is controlling antigen presentation by MHC class II molecules to elicit better T helper cell activation," explained Dr. Robert Humphreys, Founder of Antigen Express. "In the case of DNA vaccines, the Antigen Express component used with the DNA vaccine inhibits expression of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii protein). This protein normally prevents MHC class II molecules from presenting intracellularly synthesized antigens, such as those encoded in DNA vaccines, in a manner that adequately stimulates T helper cells."

The SARS genes to be used in the DNA vaccine will be supplied by Dr. Sun. His leading studies have helped to characterize the best SARS genes to use for stimulation of an immune response.

Antigen Express has received several SBIR grants from the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Cancer Institute, to apply this technology in DNA vaccine projects for cancer and infectious diseases.

"We are pleased to be initiating serious efforts in SARS vaccine development using the proprietary technologies pioneered at Antigen Express," said Anna Gluskin, CEO of Generex. "The SARS virus is still a problem in the world today and therefore an important indication for demonstrating the potential of T helper stimulating technologies."

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/35721/generex-biotechnology-s-subsidiary-enters-into-collaboration-to-develop-sars-vaccine.html