UNC Charlotte To Evaluate Potential Adjuvant Activity Of ImmuneRegen's Viprovex(R) With Cancer Vaccine

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 24 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: IRBS), today announces a collaborative relationship with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to evaluate ImmuneRegen's Viprovex as a possible cancer-vaccine adjuvant. Adjuvants are agents that stimulate and, subsequently, augment the immune system's response to a foreign antigen.

The studies will be under the direction of Pinku Mukherjee, Ph.D., an accomplished cellular immunologist focused on developing novel immunotherapies against solid adenocarcinomas, especially pancreatic and breast cancers. This UNC-funded collaboration, part of a material transfer agreement with the university, will evaluate the potential adjuvant activity of Viprovex on cancer vaccines currently being developed by Dr. Mukherjee.

The aim of cancer vaccines are to treat existing cancers or prevent the development of cancer, termed therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines, respectively. While therapeutic vaccines stimulate the immune system to attack cancerous cells, prophylactic vaccines are administered to attack viruses that cause cancer. There are currently only two cancer vaccines licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration. These vaccines are intended to prevent hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, viruses known to cause liver and cervical cancer, respectively.

"Studies to date indicate that the active ingredient in Viprovex, Sar9, Met (O2)11-Substance P, stimulates both the humoral and cellular arms of the immune response. Furthermore, studies indicate this compound activates dendritic cells, the antigen-presenting cells that play a central role in triggering immune responses. These findings fuel our confidence that Viprovex will demonstrate potential adjuvant activity when examined in conjunction with cancer vaccines such as those being developed by the University of North Carolina," said Hal Siegel, Ph.D., of ImmuneRegen BioSciences. "Our compound has shown adjuvant activity with a number of antigens. Both the antigen-presenting dendritic cells and tumor-targeting natural killer cells respond to Substance P via the same receptor that mediates the effect of Viprovex. Thus we hope to see activation of both arms of the immune system when Viprovex is administered with cancer vaccines."

"As tumor immunologists, we are constantly seeking new immune modulating adjuvants that may function either directly on the innate immune effector cells such as the natural killer cells, or indirectly, by enhancing the antigen presenting capability of dendritic cells to present tumor antigens effectively to T cells," stated Dr. Pinku Mukherjee. "Either or both mechanisms are critical in generating a robust anti-tumor cellular immune response. We are therefore excited about the opportunity to test Viprovex as a potential adjuvant to our cancer vaccines and further the understanding of its possible immune-modulating functions."

Studies have demonstrated Viprovex's adjuvant activity when administered with model antigens, such as chicken ovalbumin. Further, when administered with vaccines targeted against avian influenza, Viprovex not only increased antibody responses but also demonstrated cross-reactivity, which confirms that Viprovex may also broaden the immune response. Additionally, Viprovex treatment resulted in enhanced survival of small animals upon challenge with H5N1 avian flu virus. For these reasons, combined with the potential to increase antigen presenting cells and/or natural killer cell activity, ImmuneRegen believes Viprovex may be an ideal candidate for use as a cancer-vaccine adjuvant.

About UNC Charlotte

A public research university, UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest campus among the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina system. It is the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. The university offers 18 doctoral programs, 62 master's degree programs and 90 programs leading to bachelor's degrees. Fall 2008 enrollment exceeds 23,300 students, including almost 5,200 graduate students.

About ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.

ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc., (OTCBB: IRBS) is a development-stage biotechnology company focused on the research, development and licensing of Homspera(R) and its derivatives. Homspera is an adult stem cell active compound that in study results has been shown to regenerate and strengthen the immune system and enhance wound healing. Viprovex(R), a derivative of Homspera, is being developed for potential use against infectious diseases as a stand-alone or combination therapy and as a vaccine adjuvant. To advance its mission, the Scottsdale, Arizona-based company has forged numerous study partnerships with industry and academic leaders, including Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, HemoGenix, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute and Virion Systems, Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.immuneregen.com.

Statements about ImmuneRegen's future expectations, including statements about the potential for ImmuneRegen's drug candidates, science and technology, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. ImmuneRegen intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These future events may not occur as and when expected, if at all, and, together with ImmuneRegen's business, are subject to various risks and uncertainties. ImmuneRegen's actual results could differ materially from expected results as a result of a number of factors, including the fact that preliminary results involved only a small number of test mice, the subsequent investigations were limited in scope, the uncertainties inherent in research and development collaborations, pre-clinical and clinical trials and product development programs (including, but not limited to the fact that future results or research and development efforts may prove less encouraging than current results or cause side effects not observed in current pre-clinical trials), the evaluation of potential opportunities, the level of corporate expenditures and monies available for further studies, capital market conditions, and others set forth in ImmuneRegen's periodic report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There are no guarantees that any of ImmuneRegen's proposed products will prove to be commercially successful. ImmuneRegen undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.

ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.