Vaccines

Oncology Vaccines

Vaccines based on gangliosides -Clinical Development Program -Laboratorios Elea SACIFyA.

Gangliosides are expressed in various types of cancer and it is believed they play a vital roll in the tumor growth regulation, immune tolerance and angiogenesis, representing a new line of attack for finding effective anti-cancer therapies. Gangliosides are glycosphingolipids (substances made of sugars and lipids) which are expressed on the surface of cancerous cells as well as normal ones. Some types of gangliosides are expressed on some specific types of cancerous cells and can be considered specific tumoral antigens (substances capable of generating an immune response).

In the last 5 years, ELEA Laboratories, working with the Molecular Immunology Center (Centro de Inmunología Molecular – CIM -) from La Habana- Cuba- has been involved in the discovery and development of anti-cancer therapeutic vaccines based on the generation of an immune response against gangliosides expressed on the surface of the membranes of cancerous cells.

To date 3 vaccines have been developed. The first two based on the conjugation of two different gangliosides with a carrier, associating this with an immune response booster. The two selected gangliosides are Neu-Acetyl GM3 and Neu-glycolil GM3.

The third vaccine is based on another technology and is an anti-idiotypic which reacts against the P3 anti-body, which is generated after exposing monoclonal cells to N-glycoliled gangliosides which contain sialic acid and are expressed as antigens in breast cancer cells and melanoma.

The three vaccines developed to date are:

N-acetil GM3 / VSSP

This vaccine was obtained by means of the “non-covalent” conjugation of the Neu-acetyl GM3 antigen and a VSSP carrier (Small size protein obtained from the external membrane of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria) and administered in conjunction with a non-specific immune response booster , Montanide ISA 51.

N-glicolil GM3 / VSSP

This vaccine was obtained by means of the “non-covalent” conjugation of the Neu-glycolil GM3 antigen and a VSSP carrier (Small size protein obtained from the external membrane of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria) and administered in conjunction with a non-specific immune response booster , Montanide ISA 51.

Anti-idiotypic vaccine 1E10

This vaccine is an anti-idiotypic monoclonal anti-body which recognizes the P3 anti-body, reacting against N-glycoliled gangliosides which are present on the surface of the membranes of breast cancer and melanoma cells. The preparation consists of the monoclonal anti-body 1E10 administered with aluminum hydroxide.

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