Vaxfectin: a versatile adjuvant for plasmid DNA- and protein-based vaccines.
BACKGROUND
Many vaccines require the use of an adjuvant to achieve immunity. So far, few adjuvants have advanced successfully through clinical trials to become part of licensed vaccines. Vaxfectin® (Vical, CA, USA) represents a next-generation adjuvant with promise as a platform technology, showing utility with both plasmid DNA (pDNA) and protein-based vaccines.


METHODS
This review describes the chemical, physical, preclinical and clinical development of Vaxfectin for pDNA-based vaccines. Also included is the preclinical development of Vaxfectin-adjuvanted protein- and peptide-based vaccines.


RESULTS
The reader will gain knowledge of vaccine adjuvant development from bench to bedside.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaxfectin has effectively boosted the immune response against a range of pDNA-expressed pathogenic antigens in preclinical models extending from rodents to non-human primates. In the clinic, Vaxfectin-adjuvanted pDNA-based H5N1 influenza vaccines have been shown to be well tolerated and to result in durable immune responses within the predicted protective range reported for protein-based vaccines.
Vical, Inc., Pharmaceutical Sciences, 10390 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. ssullivan@vical.com
Sean M
SM
Sullivan
John
J
Doukas
Jukka
J
Hartikka
Larry
L
Smith
Alain
A
Rolland
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C460866:vaxfectin