Creato Flu develops oral influenza vaccine
German biotech Creato Flu has developed a broad-spectrum oral influenza vaccine that is expected to be effective against all types of influenza virus.
German biotech Creato Flu has developed a broad-spectrum oral influenza vaccine that is expected to be effective against all types of influenza virus.
The vaccine uses a technology adapted from the production of animal vaccines at German firm Creatogen Laboratories.
"A vaccination strain based on living salmonella, which has been used as protection against typhoid fever in humans for many years, is being modified by genetic engineering so that the bacterial cells express highly conserved antigens of various influenza subtypes on their surface," said Professor Matthias Schramm, chief operating officer of Creato Flu.
Vaccination of humans with this strain is expected to induce immunity against all influenza subtypes having these antigens.
"At present three highly conserved antigens are known in influenza, and the existence of additional antigens is quite unlikely; consequently, we can expect comprehensive protection," added Schramm. Creato Flu has filed patent applications for all three antigens.
Creatogen researchers have employed this technology to develop a poultry vaccine against all types of avian influenza. This project, which is currently in its animals testing phase, is in collaboration with the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Riems and funded by the German Federal Government (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection).
The advantages of a salmonella-based vaccine compared with a conventionally manufactured, inactivated vaccine include being administered orally, produced rapidly, inexpensively and in any quantity. In case of a pandemic, it could then easily meet demand worldwide. Furthermore, production of this type of vaccine can start immediately.
Creato Flu plans to deliver a vaccine for human clinical trials within the next 12 months. A respective patent has been filed. The company is currently seeking a partner from the pharmaceutical industry to expand the research project into clinical trials and provide the infrastructure for production and commercialisation.