GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVAX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of recombinant nanoparticle vaccines and adjuvants, today presented preclinical data demonstrating that antibodies generated to its RSV F-protein nanoparticle vaccine candidate (RSV F vaccine) bind to the site II epitope of the RSV F-protein with a higher affinity than palivizumab (Syangis®) at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Washington, DC.
In poster session 024: I-314b titled "Development and Characterization of Recombinant RSV Nanoparticle Vaccine Induced Monoclonal Antibody." [Exhibit Hall B, Saturday, September 6, 2014 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm], Novavax used its RSV F vaccine to generate a murine monoclonal antibody, NVX4C6, that binds to the antigenic site II on the RSV F-protein. Using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Novavax was able to compare the binding affinity of NVX4C6 and palivizumab to the antigenic site II.
This experiment demonstrated that Novavax' RSV F vaccine can induce antibodies to the antigenic site II (specifically NVX4C6) that have a higher binding affinity to the site than palivizumab. In addition, NVX4C6 was shown to have a slightly different specificity to the site II epitope and to recognize mutated site II peptide not recognized by palivizumab, suggesting that NVX4C6 may neutralize palivizumab escape mutants.
"We know that our RSV F protein vaccine creates a polyclonal antibody response to site II on the F protein. We have hypothesized that this polyclonal response may provide differentiated and potentially superior protection against RSV infection relative to the monoclonal antibody palivizumab," said Greg Glenn, SVP, Research and Development at Novavax. "This study proves, in the case of NVX4C6, that certain antibodies generated by our vaccine have a higher affinity and different binding specificity to the target site, both of which help to substantiate our belief that the vaccine has the potential to deliver a superior clinical benefit relative to palivizumab."
The poster will be available under the Presentations section of the Novavax website.
About Novavax
Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVAX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company creating vaccines and vaccine adjuvants to address a broad range of infectious diseases worldwide. Using innovative proprietary recombinant nanoparticle vaccine technology, the company produces vaccine candidates to efficiently and effectively respond to both known and newly emergent diseases.