BACKGROUND
Based on its novel technology, VacciGuard is developing effective vaccines against many violent pathogens — for which there is currently no effective vaccine solution — and against devastating diseases such as cancer. Proof of concept was obtained in mouse models for five pathogens: Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitis type B, West Nile Virus (WNV) and Murine Cytomegalovirus (MCMV).

 

TECHNOLOGY
The inventors discovered that poor immunogenic antigens (carbohydrates, peptides) conjugated to HSP-60-derived peptides become remarkably effective vaccines. HSP-60 gives a powerful signal to the immune system because it is a chaperone/stress protein, conserved throughout evolution, and up-regulated at sites of inflammation, infections, and other kind of stress. Therefore, HSP-60 peptide conjugates convert a weak antigen into a strong immunogen.

 

Currently VacciGuard is developing the following projects:

Project update: VacciGuard signed an agreement with a large U.S. vaccine company to support the proof of concept of one of the projects.

MARKET NEED & SIZE
Infectious diseases are responsible for a third of all deaths, killing at least 15 million people a year. On top of this high death toll, infectious diseases significantly disable millions more. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths. According to WHO, about 1.3 million people die every year from lung cancer. The five-year survival rate is only 15%, in comparison to 88% for breast cancer and 99% for prostate cancer.

 

The global vaccine market is estimated at $11 billion. It is expected to grow to $17 billion in 2010, representing 10% growth per year. The current market for influenza vaccines is about $1.1 billion; the WNV market is estimated at about $400 million, and the lung cancer market is estimated at $3.7 billion.

 

Professor Irun Cohen, M.D., Inventor. Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science; research yielded basis for a therapeutic agent for Type 1 diabetes, currently in clinical development (Phase III)

Professor Bracha Rager, Ph.D., Inventor. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; former chief scientist, Ministry of Health and president of the Israel Society for Microbiology

Professor Angel Progader, Ph.D., Inventor. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Ben-Gurion University

Prof. Myron Levine, M.D., D.T.P.H. Advisor. Director, Center of Vaccine Development, Maryland University; world expert in epidemiology, developed up to market the attenuated live oral Salmonella typhi vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine

Stephen Udem, M.D., Ph.D., Advisor. Internationally recognized virologist and vaccinologist; senior R&D positions in Wyeth’s vaccine division; managed the IAVI’s Vaccine Development programs

Prof. Shai Ashkenazi, M.D., M.Sc., Advisor. Professor of pediatrics, Sackler Faculty of Medicine; world expert in infectious diseases

Irit Pinchasi, Ph.D., Advisor. Served as VP Global Innovative R&D, Teva; managed development of Copaxone® from academia to market