Neovacs’ Kinoids
Neovacs’ Kinoids are immunotherapies that are designed to induce an antibody response by the patient’s immune system that targets a particular over-expressed cytokine responsible for the pathogenesis and development of a given disease. Targeting cytokines is a well-validated therapeutic strategy, given the extensive successful use of passive immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibodies in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
By contrast to passive approaches, the Kinoid technology uses the principle of active immunization, that is to say it uses the patient’s own immune system to generate polyclonal antibodies against the over-expressed cytokine of interest.
The Kinoid technology can be applied in principle to any cytokine target. With a view to making best use of its resources, and bringing to market as quickly as possible products based on the Kinoid platform, Neovacs has chosen to focus its efforts on three cytokines. The scientific community considers these targets as playing a key role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases:
- Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)
- Interferon α (IFNα)
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
A Kinoid is obtained by chemically linking the cytokine of interest to a foreign carrier protein, KLH ( Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin), and then treating the resultant compound to inactivate the cytokine.
Active immunization is a novel approach to therapies targeting cytokines
Passive immunotherapies are based on the industrial synthesis of biological molecules recognizing a single target. The majority of such molecules are monoclonal antibodies. Neovacs’ active immunotherapy approach, by contrast, produces a polyclonal antibody response, akin to the natural immune response and that, by definition, consists of antibodies of different isotypes and that recognize different targets (epitopes) on the cytokine.
Since it hits multiple targets, a polyclonal response should result in a high level of efficacy against the cytokine targeted. Further, the breadth of polyclonal response means that it can be efficacious against multiple sub-types of the same cytokine; Neovacs has demonstrated this broad spectrum phenomenon with the IFNα-K.
An additional benefit of the Kinoid approach is that, since the natural antibody response lasts longer than administered passive therapies (3-6 months versus typically 2-4 weeks for synthetic monoclonals), the treatment schedule can be much less burdensome. Much longer intervals between treatment are a major benefit for patients in terms of comfort and quality of life.
Finally, Kinoids benefit from a low cost of goods as a result of the low annual dosages required, typically microgramme quantities. As a consequence, Kinoids are expected to have a material cost advantage over passive immunotherapies.
Kinoid technology platform and products based benefits from a strong intellectual property estate providing protection until at least 2023.
| Products | Indications | Stage of Development | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TNF-Kinoid | Rheumatoid arthritis Crohn’s Disease |
Phase II Phase II: Oral presentation of Phase I/II results at ECCO Congress – 24-26 February 2011 |
|
| IFNα-Kinoid | Lupus | Phase I/II | |
| VEGF-Kinoid | AMD and certain cancers | Preclinical |