Pharmexa A/s

Bn Immunotherapeutics, Inc.

Søren Mouritsen

Iben Dalum

Klaus Gregorius Nielsen

Lucilla Steinaa

Gunilla Karlsson

Anand Gautam

Dana Leach

Peter Birk Rasmussen

Jesper Haaning

Martin Roland Jensen

Steen Klysner

Torben Halkier

Henrik Elsner

Peter Birk

Jesper Hanning

A method is disclosed for inducing cell-mediated immunity against cellular antigens. More specifically, the invention provides for a method for inducing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immunity against weak antigens, notably self-proteins. The method entails that antigen presenting cells are induced to present at least one CTL epitope of the weak antigen and at the same time presenting at least one foreign T-helper lymphocyte epitope. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen is a cancer specific antigen, e.g. PSM, Her2, or FGF8b. The method can be exercised by using traditional polypeptide vaccination, but also by using live attenuated vaccines or nucleic acid vaccination. The invention furthermore provides immunogenic analogues of PSM, Her2 and FGF8b, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding these analogues. Also vectors and transformed cells are disclosed. The invention also provides for a method for identification of immunogenic analogues of weak or non-immunogenic antigens.

Methods for therapeutic vaccination

A method is disclosed for inducing cell-mediated immunity against cellular antigens. More specifically, the invention provides for a method for inducing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immunity against weak antigens, notably self-proteins. The method entails that antigen presenting cells are induced to present at least one CTL epitope of the weak antigen and at the same time presenting at least one foreign T-helper lymphocyte epitope. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen is a cancer specific antigen, e.g. PSM, Her2, or FGF8. The method can be exercised by using traditional polypeptide vaccination, but also by using live attenuated vaccines or nucleic acid vaccination. The invention furthermore provides immunogenic analogues of PSM, Her2 and FGF8, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding these analogues. Also vectors and transformed cells are disclosed. The invention also provides for a method for identification of immunogenic analogues of weak or non-immunogenic antigens.

A modified human TNF&#x3b1; molecule is capable of raising neutralizing antibodies towards unmodified human TNF&#x3b1; following administration of the modified TNF&#x3b1; to a human host, wherein one or more peptide fragments of the human TNF&#x3b1; molecule has been substituted by one or more peptides containing immunodominant T cell epitopes or a truncated form of the molecule containing the immunodominant epitope and one or both flanking regions of the human TNF&#x3b1;-molecule containing at least one TNF&#x3b1; B cell epitope, wherein the substitution introduces a substantial change in the amino acid sequence of any one of the strands of the front &#x3b2;-sheet, in any one of the connecting loops, or in any one of the B', I, or D strands of the back &#x3b2;-sheet.

Modified TNF-alpha molecules, DNA encoding such and vaccines comprising such modified TNF-alpha and DNA

Disclosed are novel methods for increasing muscle mass by means of immunization against Growth Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF-8, myostatin). Immunization is preferably effected by administration of analogues of GDF-8 which are capable of inducing antibody production against homologous GDF-8. Especially preferred as an immunogen is homologous GDF-8 which has been modified by introduction of one single or a few foreign, immunodominant and promiscuous T-cell epitopes while substantially preserving the tertiary structure of the homologous GDF-8. Also disclosed are nucleic acid vaccination against GDF-8 and vaccination using live vaccines as well as methods and means useful for the vaccination. Such methods and means include methods for identification of useful immunogenic GDF-8 analogues, methods for the preparation of analogues and pharmaceutical formulations, as well as nucleic acid fragments, vectors, transformed cells, polypeptides and pharmaceutical formulations.

Method for down-regulating GDF-8 activity using immunogenic GDF-8 analogues

Growing community of inventors

Oberägeri, Switzerland

Søren Mouritsen