Nventa granted European patent covering heat shock protein fusion to treat influenza

Jun 8 2006

Nventa Biopharmaceuticals Corporation announced that the European Patent Office has granted Patent Number EP 941,315 to Nventa.

The patent covers compositions of fusion proteins comprised of an influenza antigen fused to a heat shock protein (Hsp), as well as DNA encoding such fusion proteins.

While several companies are working on prophylactic vaccines, Nventa is one of the few companies working on a treatment, or therapeutic vaccine, for influenza. There is worldwide concern today regarding a pandemic outbreak of influenza that could affect large populations around the world.

Nventa has already generated prototypes of Hsp fusion proteins with influenza antigens. These prototypes have shown activity in preclinical models that suggest their potential utility as a treatment for common and avian flu. In mice, these fusions have been shown to elicit T cell-mediated immune responses that recognize appropriate influenza antigens. This type of immune response has also been shown to produce the cytokine interferon gamma, which is known to have anti-viral activity.