Low-dose vaccine effective against malaria

This technology is a low-dose vaccine co-administered with a glycolipid to enhance immune response and protect against malaria.

Unmet Need: Simple vaccine for reducing risk of malaria

There are over 200 million cases and 1 million deaths each year caused by malaria. Existing methods of prevention include bednets, insecticides, and drugs, but a commercially available vaccine is still needed. A vaccine candidate has been developed, which targets an early stage of the disease to concurrently prevent infection, illness, and transmission. However, to be effective it must either be administered intravenously, or with a large, multi-dose regimen. This raises costs and complicates delivery logistics, impeding widespread use of the vaccine.

The Technology: Co-administration of low-dose vaccine and glycolipid for enhanced protection against malaria

This technology uses glycolipid adjuvants to enhance the efficacy of live attenuated sporozoite vaccines in reducing the risk of malaria. The identified glycolipids were selected due to their increased CD1 binding and activation of natural killer T cells, which in turn secrete cytokines that activate other immune cells, resulting in the generation of a powerful cell-mediate immune response. When co-administered, the glycolipid enhances the effectiveness of the vaccine, reducing the size and number of doses needed to confer protection against malaria, and therefore lowering the cost and complexity of administration.

Applications:

• Mass immunizations against malaria
• Malaria vaccination for military or travelers
• Research tool for studying malaria vaccines
• Non-IV parenteral administration of other vaccines and medications

Advantages:

• Lower and fewer dosages required for protection
• Simplified logistics of administration
• Cost-effective
• Minimized systemic side effects with non-IV parenteral administration
• Safety and activity of this glycolipid adjuvant has already been approved and characterized in humans

Lead Inventor:

David D. Ho, M.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications:

• Watson F, Shears M, Matsubara J, Kalata A, Seilie A, Talavera IC, Olsen T, Tsuji M, Chakravarty S, Sim BKL, Hoffman S, Murphy S. “Cryopreserved Sporozoites with and without the Glycolipid Adjuvant 7DW8-5 Protect in Prime-and-Trap Malaria Vaccination” Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Feb 28; 106(4):1227–1236.

• Coelho-Dos-Reis JG, Li X, Tsuji M. “Development of a novel mechanism-based glycolipid adjuvant for vaccination” F1000Res. 2018 May 30; 7:F1000 Faculty Rev: 676.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU22363

• Licensing Contact: Kristin Neuman