Promising Gene Immunotherapy Technology Fights Tumors and Infectious Diseases

Tech ID: 95-03

Summary - National Jewish Health researchers have developed and tested a novel therapeutic composition and method for stimulating the immune system to fight cancer and infectious diseases. The technology uses the combined expression of genes for two types of potent immune stimulants, cytokines and superantigens, delivered by a variety of vectors. Genes for antigenic proteins from infectious organisms, or the proteins themselves, may be combined with the cytokine and/or superantigen genes to generate an immune response against various infectious diseases.

Advantages of Invention

  • Combined effects of selected compounds yield better results than single compounds
  • A single therapeutic composition may have efficacy against multiple cancer types or infectious diseases
  • Composition favors development of a Th1-type immune response, triggering cellular immune response in addition to humoral immune response
  • Use of superantigen gene triggers immune response at very low dosages, but use of nucleic acid to express superantigen locally minimizes risk of systemic toxicity

State of Development - Technology has been successfully tested in mice and dogs with several cancer types. Phase I/IIa clinical trials in human melanoma patients were conducted.  Enhanced immune response using prototype DNA vaccine has been demonstrated in vivo.

Further R&D Required - Continuing research is underway to demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans and companion animals and to expand preclinical data for a broader range of tumor types, infectious diseases, and delivery technologies.

Patent - U.S. Patents # 5,705,151 and #5,935,568 and Australian Patent # 704012 issued. U.S. and other foreign patent applications pending.

Publications - J. Clin. Invest. June 1998, 101(11):2406-2414; Thamm et al. 2003 Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 52(8): 473-80

Inventors - Steven Dow, DVM., PhD; Robyn Elmslie, DVM; and Terry Potter, PhD

Licensing Status - This technology is available for licensing. In vivo companion animal therapeutic is exclusively licensed.

For Further Information, Contact:
Emmanuel Hilaire, PhD
Licensing Associate
Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Program
National Jewish Health
1400 Jackson Street, Room M206a
Denver, CO 80206
Voice: (303) 398-1053
Fax: (303) 270-2352
hilairee@njc.org

Note: This information is provided to you as an educational service of National Jewish Health. It is not meant to be a substitute for consulting with your own physician.

© Copyright 2008 National Jewish Health