Technology Overview

AlphaVax utilizes its established alphavirus-based delivery and expression vector that incorporates genes coding for selected antigens from tumor-associated antigens or infectious disease pathogens to create a protective immune response.

Distinguishing characteristics of this proprietary alphavirus vaccine vector (VRP) make it especially promising and, most notably, its ease of adaptation to different disease targets, its ability to produce a strong, effective and consistent immune response, even in the presence of immunity to the vector; and its ability to break tolerance against “self” antigens in cancer models.

The alphavaccine system is well suited for cancer immunotherapy because of its ability to generate a comprehensive immune response with both antibodies and T cells that specifically target tumor-associated antigens, and a demonstrated ability to sustain immunologic activity over repeated use despite the presence of an immune response to the vector. Both cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and antibodies are recognized as key mediators in anti-cancer immunity. However, most tumor-associated antigens are “self” proteins, and if active cancer immunotherapy is to be effective, a vaccine must be able to break the immunological tolerance to self antigens. Our alphavaccines have been demonstrated to break self-tolerance in human trials.

AlphaVax is the only company to date to overcome perceived manufacturing and scale-up hurdles for the alphavirus vector technology, which the Company believes will continue to act as a barrier to competitive entry. The Company continues to extend its patent protection for both the core vector platform as well as innovative manufacturing processes.

Distinct competitive advantages of alphavaccines include:

  • Broad applicability and flexibility across a wide range of disease targets
  • Direct targeting of the body’s immune system
  • Strong, effective and consistent antibody and cellular immune responses
  • Non-replicating system with demonstrated safety in clinical trials and animal models
  • Operates solely in the cytoplasm, with no possibility of integration into nuclear chromosomes
  • High levels of disease target gene expression
  • Virtually absent pre-existing anti-vector immunity in human populations
  • No or limited inhibition by anti-vector immune responses, enabling vaccine recipients to be treated with the same basic system multiple times or as part of prime/boost regimens
  • Ability to break tolerance against self antigens in tumor challenge models
  • Proprietary manufacturing processes allowing for production of clinical trial material and the capability to scale to commercial quantities

AlphaVax believes that no other vaccine technology offers a similar broad range of advantages and applications for multiple product opportunities. Clinical trials in multiple disease states have repeatedly demonstrated the safety and suggested efficacy of VRP vaccines a wide array of disease targets.