Avantogen to co-develop genital herpes vaccine

Avantogen (ASX:ACU), formerly known as Australian Cancer Tehcnology, is to team up with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to conduct a preclinical study to develop a new therapeutic vaccine for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

Avantogen will combine its GPI-0100 adjuvant with a genetically engineered, live attenuated HSV-2 vaccine candidate, provided by an unnamed commercial partner, designed to stimulate an effective immune response against HSV-2. GPI-0100 is one of several immune enhancing adjucants developed by Galencia, which was acquired by Australian Cancer Technology, in July 2004.

"We're essentially taking the company's virus plus our adjuvant and putting it into the animal model, which is the guinea pig, and then examining whether or not the guinea pigs, when they're exposed to herpes, contract and develop the disease," said Avantogen's business development director Dr Roger Aston. The study will measure whether or not the guinea pigs get the disease, and how severe the herpes is as a consequence of the infection, said Aston.

Avantogen is developing the vaccine with the aim of reducing the likelihood of its recurrence, and shortening the duration of herpetic lesions. If effective, it is expected to be useful for immunisation of high risk groups such as pre-teens prior to potential exposure to HSV-2.

The study will be conducted at the UAB School of Medicine.