Cytos Biotechnology Ag

Kuros Biosciences Ag

Patrik Maurer

Martin F Bachmann

Edwin Meijerink

Katrin Schwarz

Alain Tissot

Paul Pumpens

Indulis Cielens

Regina Renhofa

Karl Proba

Gunther Spohn

Vania Manolova

Tazio Storni

Gerd Lipowsky

Wolfgang Andreas Renner

Monika Bauer

Roger Beerli

Sebastian Fuchs

Conrad Coester

Klaus Dietmeier

Yu Zou

Andreas Cornelius

Karl G Proba

The invention relates to the finding that virus like particles (VLPs) can be loaded with immunostimulatory substances, in particular with DNA oligonucleotides containing non-methylated C and G (CpGs). Such CpG-VLPs are dramatically more immunogenic than their CpG-free counterparts and induce enhanced B and T cell responses. The immune response against antigens optionally coupled, fused or attached otherwise to the VLPs is similarly enhanced as the immune response against the VLP itself. In addition, the T cell responses against both the VLPs and antigens are especially directed to the Th1 type. Antigens attached to CpG-loaded VLPs may therefore be ideal vaccines for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination against allergies, tumors and other self-molecules and chronic viral diseases.

Packaging of immunostimulatory substances into virus-like particles: method of preparation and use

The application is related to compositions and methods for the treatment of hypersensitivity, wherein the compositions comprise a particle packaged with immunostimulatory nucleic acids. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful in the treatment of atopic eczema, asthma and IgE-mediated allergy (type I allergy), especially pollen allergy and house dust allergy.

Immunostimulatory nucleic acid packaged particles for the treatment of hypersensitivity

The invention relates to recombinantly produced human monoclonalantibodies which are specifically binding nicotine and to nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention further relates to the use of such antibodies in the treatment of nicotine addiction.

Human monoclonal nicotine specific antibodies

The present invention provides compositions comprising a conjugate of a hapten with a carrier in an ordered and repetitive array, and methods of making such compositions. The conjugates and compositions of the invention may comprise a variety of haptens, including hormones, toxins and drugs, especially drugs of addiction such as nicotine. Compositions and conjugates of the invention are useful for inducing immune responses against haptens, which can use useful in a variety of therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic regimens. In certain embodiments, immune responses generated using the conjugates, compositions and methods of the present invention are useful to prevent or treat addiction to drugs of abuse and the resultant diseases associated with drug addiction.teh

Hapten-carrier conjugates and uses thereof

The present invention is related to the fields of molecular biology, virology, immunology and medicine. The invention provides a composition comprising a virus-like particle (VLP) of an RNA-bacteriophage and at least one antigen, wherein the VLP is recombinantly produced in a host, and wherein the amount of host RNA with secondary structure comprised by the VLP is at most 20% of the amount of host RNA with secondary structure originally comprised by the VLP; and wherein the VLP and the at least one antigen are linked with one another. The invention also provides methods for producing the compositions of the invention. The compositions of the invention are useful in the production of vaccines for the treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions. Furthermore, the compositions of the invention are particularly useful to efficiently induce strong antibody responses against the antigen within the indicated context while lowering or eliminating unwanted T cell responses.

VLP-antigen conjugates and their uses as vaccines

The present invention is related to the fields of molecular biology, virology, immunology and medicine. The invention provides a composition comprising an ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array, and in particular a RANKL protein, RANKL fragment or RANKL peptide-VLP-array. More specifically, the invention provides a composition comprising a virus-like particle and at least one RANKL protein, RANKL fragment or RANKL peptide bound thereto. The invention also provides a process for producing the conjugates and the ordered and repetitive arrays, respectively. The compositions of the invention are useful in the production of vaccines for the treatment of bone diseases and as a pharmaccine to prevent or cure bone diseases and to efficiently induce immune responses, in particular antibody responses. Furthermore, the compositions of the invention are particularly useful to efficiently induce self-specific immune responses within the indicated context.

Antigen arrays for treatment of bone disease

Packaging of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides into virus-like particles: method of preparation and use

The present invention provides compositions comprising a conjugate of a hapten with a carrier in an ordered and repetitive array, and methods of making such compositions. The conjugates and compositions of the invention may comprise a variety of haptens, including hormones, toxins and drugs, especially drugs of addiction such as nicotine. Compositions and conjugates of the invention are useful for inducing immune responses against haptens, which can use useful in a variety of therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic regimens. In certain embodiments, immune responses generated using the conjugates, compositions and methods of the present invention are useful to prevent or treat addiction to drugs of abuse and the resultant diseases associated with drug addiction.

Growing community of inventors

Winterthur, Switzerland

Patrik Maurer