Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - December 4, 2002
The presentation is entitled, "Minimal Size for the Antiviral Activity of a Synthetic Peptide Derived from the TM gp of FIV," and its lead authors are Mymetics' research partners Simone Giannecchini and Mauro Bendinelli, from the Retrovirus Center of the University of Pisa, and Dr. P. F. Serres, Mymetics' Chief Scientific Officer.
"Our work with the FIV system further demonstrates the potential application of mimicry to developing anti-retroviral compounds," stated Peter McCann, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Mymetics Corporation. "We synthesized these potent peptide candidates from a region of FIV transmembrane gp36, which is identical in function to the HIV gp41 protein."
Dr. McCann continued, "The performance of Mymetics' proprietary compounds is noteworthy on a number of accounts. First, these compounds further prove the relevance of our mimicry insight, as the most potent performers come from a region of the virus that shows the greatest homology with IL-2. We used exactly the same approach when developing our lead HIV peptide candidates with similar success. The second profound discovery presented today is that short peptides can work to block the virus in vitro. Peptide W81, which is only 8 amino acids long, demonstrated significant antiviral activity in spite of its small size. We believe this is in part due to the ability of this very small protein to retain its unique helical configuration in vitro. We plan to apply our findings to the human model of HIV, targeting shorter peptides that would in theory be less complex to make than the current 36-amino-acid compound that recently completed Phase III clinical trials. Shorter compounds would also be less expensive to manufacture, easier to deliver, and offer superior bio-availability."
Previously, Mymetics' research teams confirmed antigenic cross-reactivity between gp41, an HIV surface protein and IL-2, a critical cytokine that Mymetics dubs the "maestro" of the immune response. This demonstrated mimicry between gp41 and IL-2 allows gp41 to bind to the host cell's receptor for IL-2, which the Company believes is a critical step leading to immunosuppression.
Mimicry appears to provoke the body's own immune system into attacking IL-2 and those cells that produce IL-2. This may explain HIV replication, as well as why HIV infection leads to AIDS and ultimately the fatal breakdown of the immune system. When antibodies and killer T-cells mount an attack against gp41, they also attack the host cell that is the source of IL-2, compromising the body's ability to defend itself. (IL-2 stimulates the normal activity of immune cells, including those generated to fight retroviral infection.) In addition, by binding to the IL-2 receptor, gp41 interferes with the normal activity of IL-2.
According to the preclinical results presented today at the conference, Mymetics' FIV-inhibitory peptides from the N-terminal (E38A) and from the C-terminal (L361, E29K, L15P, W81) domains of FIV TM gp36 are potent inhibitors of FIV replication in lymphoid cells. These peptides are similar to HIV-inhibitory peptides and further demonstrate that sequences chosen from the IL-2 homologous regions of the FIV-gp36 molecule show potent inhibitory activity. Furthermore, the shortest C-terminal peptide (W81) demonstrated a helical conformation uncharacteristic of a peptide its size. These data provide important clues to the eventual development of therapeutic drugs that may block HIV from binding to T-cells.
Anti-Retroviral Programs Based on the Company's approach to molecular mimicry, Mymetics' scientists are pursuing multiple programs in retroviral diseases:
* HIV Therapeutics: Mymetics is in the preclinical phase, developing and testing peptides and other compounds that adhere to gp41 or the IL-2 receptor site without suppressing the immune system. The Company is also developing monoclonal antibodies that act on gp41 and on the host cell receptor, preventing gp41 from binding while allowing the normal activity of IL-2 (avoiding immunosuppression).
* HIV Vaccine: The Company's researchers are also seeking to create a modified form of gp41 that generates an immune response against the viral protein, but not against IL-2.
* Therapeutics to treat additional retroviruses: Mymetics is studying other retroviruses, including FIV and HTLV, which also display a form of mimicry. Some of these viruses are associated with diseases including certain leukemias (oncoviruses) and multiple sclerosis.
About Mymetics
Mymetics is an international biotechnology company developing therapeutic products and vaccines against retroviruses. The Company's R&D pipeline focuses on programs in HIV infection, as well as additional retroviruses associated with diseases that include certain leukemias (oncoviruses) and multiple sclerosis. Mymetics' key discovery -- a subtle mimicry between HIV and the host cells -- forms the basis of the Company's platform technology and pipeline.
http://www.mymetics.com
Certain statements included herein are "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ include, but are not necessarily limited to, those regarding the Company's ability to continue existing development programs, the ability of Mymetics to develop and partner products based on its platform technology, Mymetics' ability to fund such efforts with or without partners, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Mymetics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Registration Statement (file no. 333-88782) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2002.
Contact: Mymetics Corp.
Peter McCann, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer
410-990-9501
Burns McClellan, Jonathan M. Nugent (investors)
Kathy L. Jones, Ph.D. (media)
212-213-0006
SOURCE Mymetics Corporation
Web Site: http://www.mymetics.com
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