Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine for hypertension
Please click here for a PDF of the Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine fact sheet.
Our Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine is being developed for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), a major risk factor for serious diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. Many patients with high blood pressure fail to take their medicines as prescribed because they generally feel well, which often results in poor control of the condition. As a result, it is estimated that about 70% patients with hypertension do not have their blood pressure adequately controlled despite advances in the treatment of high blood pressure.
The Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine may offer a way of improving control of blood pressure by increasing patient compliance with treatment. We believe that infrequent vaccinations may provide a sustained reduction in blood pressure and afford a desirable, slow onset of action. Such a vaccine could provide an adjunct to and possibly a replacement for existing therapy in some patients, particularly where patient compliance is likely to be a problem. High blood pressure is the single largest pharmaceutical indication, with recent data showing the market to be worth approximately US$36 billion per annum.
One of the causes of hypertension is overactivity of the renin angiotensin system, the main mechanism by which the human body regulates its sodium and water balance. An enzyme called renin cleaves a peptide from the protein angiotensinogen, releasing angiotensin I (AI), which is then converted to a peptide hormone called angiotensin II (AII) by the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II is a hormone which is a powerful vasoconstrictor and increases blood flow to vital organs. Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine acts by inducing antibodies which bind to angiotensin, so suppressing its actions.
A first generation formulation of the product showed encouraging results in Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with mild/moderate hypertension. We believe that greater neutralisation of angiotensin in vivo , by eliciting a stronger immune response, will lead to a positive and clinically meaningful effect on blood pressure in patients. We are now developing an improved formulation of the Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine, incorporating a novel vaccine adjuvant, which has shown evidence of stimulating a much stronger immune response in models, CoVaccine HT™. We are planning to conduct a Phase 2a study with the new formulation in 2007, with a view to demonstrating clinically meaningful reductions in blood pressure.
We intend to out-license Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine following the successful conclusion of the planned Phase 2a study. Please contact our Business Development team for more information on the Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine licensing opportunity.