Epimmune Inc.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc.

Cytel Corporation

Pharmexa Inc.

University System of Maryland

Idm Pharma, Inc.

Esteban Celis

Alessandro D Sette

Howard M Grey

John Sidney

Scott Southwood

Ralph T Kubo

Robert W Chesnut

Brian D Livingston

Maria A Vitiello

Robert W Chestnut

Scott E Strome

John D Fikes

Elissa Keogh

Denise Marie Baker

Van Tsai

W Martin Kast

Peggy Wentworth

Horacio Serra

The invention describes the development of more potent peptide vaccines to prevent or treat infections or cancer and their administration to a subject in order to elicit a T cell response in the subject. Small synthetic peptides from the known sequences of viral, bacterial, parasitic or tumor antigens are modified so they can spontaneously form complexes with a synthetic nucleic acid, such as Poly IC, that functions as an immunological adjuvant. The peptide-nucleic acid complexes are dramatically more immunogenic as compared to the separate components. The procedure for developing the vaccine involves the conjugation of a synthetic peptide containing a C residue to poly-K using a bi-functional cross-linking reagent (SMCC). The peptide/poly-K complex was then formulated with CMC and poly-IC to produce a self-adjuvant vaccine that was 36-fold more effective as compared to the same peptide administered mixed with the same adjuvant (but not complexed to it).

Method of developing a vaccine using peptide-poly IC complexes

The invention describes the development of more potent peptide vaccines to prevent or treat infections or cancer. Small synthetic peptides from the known sequences of viral, bacterial, parasitic or tumor antigens are modified so they can spontaneously form complexes with a synthetic nucleic acid, such as Poly IC, that functions as an immunological adjuvant. The peptide-nucleic acid complexes are dramatically more immunogenic as compared to the separate components. The procedure for developing the vaccine involves the conjugation of a synthetic peptide containing a C residue to poly-K using a bi-functional cross-linking reagent (SMCC). The peptide/poly-K complex was then formulated with CMC and poly-IC to produce a self-adjuvant vaccine that was 36-fold more effective as compared to the same peptide administered mixed with the same adjuvant (but not complexed to it).

The present invention provides the means and methods for selecting immunogenic peptides and the immunogenic peptide compositions capable of specifically binding glycoproteins encoded by HLA alleles and inducing T cell activation in T cells restricted by the allele. One such peptide, NMLSTVLGV (SEQ ID NO: 183) is useful to elicit an immune response against influenza. The present invention also provides a heteropolymer of an isolated immunogenic peptide less than 15 amino acids in length comprising the oligopeptide NMLSTVLGV (SEQ ID NO: 183) and at least one different peptide.

HLA binding motifs and peptides and their uses

This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to identify and prepareepitopes, and to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards malaria. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of malaria. In particular, this application discloses isolated peptides comprising oligopeptides, for example the oligopeptide GVSENIFLK, or isolated peptides conjugated with T helper peptides that are used as antigens in epitope-based vaccines to prevent and/or treat malaria.

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The invention provides an immunogenic or antigenic polypeptide containing a translocation domain, a peptide epitope, at least one biologically active agent, and cleavage sites. These polypeptides are useful for activating T cell responses.

Chimeric antigen-specific T cell-activating polypeptides

The present invention relates to Trojan antigens, and immunogenic compositions comprising the Trojan antigens. The present invention also relates to methods of generating an immune response in a subject using the Trojan antigens or immunogenic compositions. The present invention further relates to methods of treating squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) using the Trojan antigens and immunogenic compositions of the present invention.

HPV 16 peptide vaccine for head and neck cancer

Chimeric antigen-specific t cell-activating polypeptides

Methods and materials for inducing anti-tumor responses in melanoma patients are disclosed. These methods and materials involve gp100-derived polypeptides that contain both a helper T-cell epitope and a cytotoxic T-cell epitope.

Methods and materials for cancer treatment

This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards HBV. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of HBV infection.

Inducing cellular immune responses to hepatitis B virus using peptide compositions

This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to identify and prepare human papillomavirus (HPV) epitopes, and to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards HPV. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of HPV infection.

Inducing cellular immune responses to human papillomavirus using peptide and nucleic acid compositions

The invention provides materials and methods for using EBV EBNA2 peptide epitopes to treat and/or prevent post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). The invention also provides compositions and articles of manufacture containing EBNA2 peptide epitopes that can be used to treat and/or prevent PTLD.

Epstein-barr-virus-specific immunization

The present invention provides the means and methods for selecting immunogenic peptides and the immunogenic peptide compositions capable of specifically binding glycoproteins encoded by HLA alleles and inducing T cell activation in T cells restricted by the allele. The peptides are useful to elicit an immune response against a desired antigen. The immunogenic peptide compositions of the present invention comprise immunogenic peptides having an HLA binding motif, where the peptide is from a target antigen. Target antigens of the present invention include prostate specific antigen (PSA), hepatitis B core and surface antigens (HBVc, HBVs) hepatitis C antigens, Epstein-Barr virus antigens, melanoma antigens (e.g., MAGE-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens, human papilloma virus (HPV) antigens, Lassa virus,(MT), p53, CEA, trypanosome surface antigen (TSA) and Her2/neu. An example of an immunogenic peptide of the present invention corresponds to a peptide less than about 15 amino acids in length that comprises an HLA-A2.1 binding motif, where the peptide comprises the p53 sequence SMPPPGTRV.

HLA binding peptides and their uses

Inducing cellular immune responses to human Papillomavirus using peptide and nucleic acid compositions

Inducing cellular immune responses to hepatitis B virus using peptide and nucleic acid compositions

A composition or vaccine composition comprising eight isolated epitopes consisting of YLSGANLNV (SEQ. ID. NO: 1), IMIGVLVGV (SEQ. ID. NO: 2), KLBPVQLWV (SEQ. ID. NO: 3), SMPPPGTRV (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), KVAELVHFL (SEQ. ID. NO: 5), YLQLVFGIEV (SEQ. ID. NO: 6), RLLQETELV (SEQ. ID. NO: 7), and, VVLGVVFGI (SEQ. ID. NO: 8).

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MN, United States of America

Esteban Celis