Allied Healthcare increases stake in vaccine

Following fast on last week’s announcement by Coridon that its Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (HSV-2) vaccine had received ethics approval and was heading into a phase I clinical trial, Allied Healthcare Group (ASX: AHZ) has increased its holding from 44 to 50.1% in the platform vaccine development company.

Founded by Professor Ian Frazer in 2000, Coridon is developing the first-in-class vaccine for HSV-2. HSV-2 is primarily responsible for genital herpes, whereas HSV-1 more commonly causes oral herpes or cold sores.

Current treatment of HSV-2 involves the use of antiviral drugs which can reduce, but not eliminate, outbreaks and therefore do not prevent spread of the disease.

The HSV-2 vaccine was developed using a patented DNA optimisation technology and is designed to act as a preventative and therapeutic vaccine.

The phase I study will involve vaccination of 20 healthy human volunteers via an injection in the arm and will assess the safety of the vaccine, as well as detect if an immune response can be generated.

Genital herpes is considered one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases - it is estimated that 1 in 8 Australians aged over 25 years have it.

The disease often results in recurrent painful sores in the genital area. As well as causing pain and discomfort to infected individuals, the virus can have serious health implications for babies born to infected women.

Professor Frazer is also developing a next-generation vaccine for human papilomavirus (HPV) and associated cancers through Coridon, which has shown significant and positive progress.