CaPtivate Pharmaceuticals

Product Development

Mucosal Herpes Simplex-2 (HSV-2) Vaccine

virus HSV-2 infection is the primary cause of genital herpes and is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. Persons with HSV-2 infection do not necessarily develop clinical disease, but most intermittently shed virus from the genital tract. Information on age- and sex-specific prevalence of HSV-1 and -2 is essential to optimize genital herpes control strategies. Accumulating data from epidemiologic surveys indicate that HSV-2 infection may increase infection and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus HIV. HSV-2 prevalence is, in general, highest in the Africa and the Americas, lower in western and southern Europe, and North America, and lowest in Asia. However, recent surveys indicate an increased in the United States. Age-specific HSV-2 prevalence is usually higher in women than men and in populations with higher risk sexual behavior.

The immune system within the female genital tract is the initial defense against sexually transmitted diseases. In a preclinical study in mice, we demonstrated that, mucosal delivery of HSV-2 antigen adsorbed onto CaP nanoparticles enhances protective systemic and mucosal immunities relative to the antigen without any adjuvant. Mice were immunized intravaginally with HSV-2 antigen plus CaP adjuvant (HSV-2+CAP), CAP alone, or HSV-2 antigen alone. HSV-2+CaP induced significantly higher HSV-specific mucosal IgA and IgG and concurrently enhanced systemic IgG responses. Also, in challenge studies, mice vaccinated with HSV-2+CaP were protected against an infective dose (106 PFU) of live HSV-2 virus (Ref. He Q, Mitchell A, Morcol T, Bell SJ., Clin. Diag. Lab. Immunol. 9 (2002) 1021-1024).

We are interested in establishing partnerships with companies who are developing HSV-2 vaccines and are interested in developing vaccine formulations for mucosal administration.