AdVac® technology: the cutting edge in adenovirus vector systems

Novel strategies are needed to make effective and safe vaccines against diseases such as AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis or hemorrhagic fevers. An approach that looks promising for challenging diseases like these is to deliver the vaccine into the body in a very safe and targeted way, using a ‘vehicle’ called a vector.

 

A vector is created by inserting gene segments encoding the parts of a pathogen that trigger an immune response (antigens) into a harmless virus. When this vector carrying the vaccine code is given to a person and enters the cells, it starts producing these antigens and presents them to the person’s immune system, which mounts its protective response against the real, disease-causing pathogen.

 

The vectors that have so far been shown to be best suited to the task of ‘gene taxi’ belong to the adenovirus family. This family of viruses is responsible for causing the common cold. Some members of the family are much more prevalent than others: for example, adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is so common that most adults will have been exposed to it in childhood. Others are extremely rare. Crucell has pioneered the search for these very rare adenoviruses and their development as vectors. AdVac® technology encompasses these proprietary adenovirus vectors and all the expertise that Crucell has built up in this field.

 

Versatility

Crucell scientists have managed to identify a series of very rare adenoviruses (including Ad11, Ad26, Ad35, Ad48 and Ad49)  and have developed these as vectors, along with manufacturing platforms for these vectors. The AdVac® vectors can be produced to carry genetic information derived from viruses, parasites and bacteria, thereby potentially enabling the development of vaccines against a range of diseases that currently pose major threats to global health.

Availability

Crucell has developed a plasmid system that allows easy insertion of heterologous genes into the adenovirus serotype 11, 35 or 49 backbones. These plasmids, called pAdApt™/11, pAdApt™/35, or pAdApt™/49, together with relevant information regarding the restriction sites, are available under a MTA or license.

Experience

Crucell has been a key player in the development of adenovirus-based vectors for more than 10 years,  resulting in the availability of proprietary AdVac® vectors. Crucell has generated a wide variety of research and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) clinical batches based on AdVac® technology for diverse disease fields, including infectious diseases.
 
AdVac® technology is currently being used by Crucell and licensees to develop vaccines against malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), AIDS (HIV), hemorrhagic fever (Ebola and Marburg) and hepatitis C (HCV).