PR88209

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-  VLP BioTech Has Developed a Vaccine-Based Viral-Entry-Inhibitor for the

Treatment of Chronic HBV/HDV.

-  The Vaccine-Based Treatment Has Significant Advantages Compared to a

Peptide-Based, Entry-Inhibitor (Hepcludex).

VLP BioTech, Inc., a private, preclinical biotechnology company, focused on

designing epitope-based vaccines, announces the development of a therapeutic

vaccine for the treatment of chronic HBV/HDV infections. In an important

development in the treatment of chronic HBV/HDV infections MYR GmbH, to be

acquired by Gilead Sciences, recently provided clinical proof-of-concept for

the efficacy of a peptide-based viral entry inhibitor (Hepcludex). VLP BioTech

is announcing the development of a more practical vaccine-based, viral entry

inhibitor to block HBV/HDV liver invasion. VLP BioTech Inc. is seeking

potential partners or licencees interested in clinical development of this

technology or combination therapies.

MYR GmbH's therapeutic is a myristoylated PreS1 peptide that blocks viral entry

into liver cells by binding the virus-specific hepatocyte receptor (NTCP),

however, it requires daily peptide injections. Because HBV and HDV use the same

receptor an entry-inhibitor is functional against both viruses. VLP BioTech's

vaccine therapy is based on virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying multiple

PreS1-specific B cell epitopes that bypass immune tolerance and elicit

antibodies that directly bind the virus and prevent acute infection and clear

serum HBV in a model of chronic infection. Vaccination is superior to peptide

therapy because PreS1 antibodies bind the virus rather than the liver cell

(less potential toxicity), requires 2-3 VLP injections spaced over months as

opposed to daily peptide injections for 24-48 weeks, is significantly less

expensive and anti-PreS1 antibodies have many effector functions against the

virus that the peptide does not possess.

Our VLP-based approach is highly compatible with dual-mode or multii-mode

therapies.  Indeed, we highlight a combination strategy to also elicit

HBV-specific CTL in our recent publication

(https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2019.1689745).  We are interested in finding

a partner or licensee to advance this patent pending, immune therapy into

clinical evaluation. If interested or for more information on the platform or

our malaria vaccine contact dwhitacre@VLP-Biotech.com or dmilich@vrisd.org

SOURCE: VLP BioTech, Inc.