PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, has taken a major step forward in the fight against infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 and multiple strains of influenza, with the publication of preclinical studies in the peer-reviewed journal, Viruses. These studies demonstrate the potential of their novel investigational immune activating platform, Infectimune™, to generate a broad immune response against these viruses. This exciting development could lead to new treatments for these serious diseases.
In a recent study published in the journal Vaccines, researchers demonstrated that Infectimune™ (R-DOTAP) formulated recombinant protein vaccines have the potential to induce strong cellular and antibody-mediated immune responses in mice. The research showed that these single- and multi-viral antigen containing vaccines triggered antigen-specific T cell-mediated killing, cytokine production, and the formation of long-term immune memory. These findings suggest potential applications for this vaccine formulation in the development of effective treatments against infectious diseases.
Infectimune™ has been rigorously tested in animal models of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, and the results are remarkable. Not only did the vaccine generate protective neutralizing antibody and T cell responses to all three recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants, but it also induced robust T cell and neutralizing antibody responses to multiple strains of influenza. Even more impressive is that the vaccine provided complete protection against lethal challenges with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses, and allowed for dose sparing of the viral protein antigens.
PDS Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lauren V. Wood, is encouraged by the data reported in Viruses which suggests that their Infectimune™ platform is a promising way to effectively deliver recombinant protein antigens to the immune system and activate it to develop next-generation universal vaccines against respiratory viruses, such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2. PDS Biotech is advancing their Infectimune™ based programs, and these studies demonstrate the potential of Infectimune™ to induce memory T cell responses against viral antigens, providing the immune system with long-term memory and sustained protection against infectious pathogens.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the University of Kentucky Flow Cytometry & Immune Monitoring and PDS Biotech were proud to support the research conducted by providing partial funding. This research was a vital step in uncovering the mystery of how our immune system works and how to better protect our health.
About Infectimune
Infectimune™ is an innovative, investigational platform designed to activate a broad and durable immune response to infectious disease. Preclinical studies have shown that intramuscular injection of Infectimune™-based vaccines can deliver robust and lasting protection against a range of infectious agents, while also exhibiting a reassuring safety profile. These groundbreaking vaccines promise to provide a powerful and enduring defense against infectious disease.
About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotech is revolutionizing immunotherapy with a growing pipeline of targeted cancer and infectious disease treatments. Our proprietary Versamune®, PDS0301, and Infectimune™ T cell-activating platforms are designed to activate the right type, quantity, and potency of T cells to overcome current immunotherapy limitations. Our lead Versamune® clinical candidate, PDS0101, has already proven successful in reducing tumors and stabilizing disease in combination with approved and investigational therapeutics in patients with a broad range of HPV16-associated cancers. Our Infectimune™ based vaccines have also shown promise in inducing robust and durable neutralizing antibody responses, as well as powerful T cell responses, including long-lasting memory T cell responses.