Moraxella Catarrhalis Lipooligosaccharide Based Conjugate Vaccines for the Prevention of Otitis Media and Respiratory Infections

Description of Invention:
Moraxella catarrhalis is one of the three leading causative agents of otitis media in children. This is due in part to the current immunizations of children with Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines to prevent otitis media. The proportion of otitis media caused by pneumococcal strains covered by the vaccines have decreased while those caused by Moraxella catarrhalis and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae have significantly increased. At some point during early childhood, otitis media affects more than 80% of children under 6 years of age. Otitis media can lead to deafness and language or learning deficits. In adults, Moraxella catarrhalis is a major cause of bronchopneumonia and exacerbation of existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for chronic heavy smokers or elderly patients with chronic pulmonary disease. Moraxella catarrhalis infections can be treated with antimicrobial agents; however, the emergence of antibiotic resistance makes vaccines against Moraxella catarrhalis an attractive alternative to antimicrobial drugs. There are currently no Moraxella catarrhalis vaccines on the market.

The subject technologies are conjugate vaccines against Moraxella catarrhalis. The vaccines are comprised of isolated lipooligosaccharides (LOS) from which esterified fatty acids have been removed to produce detoxified LOS or from which lipid A has been removed to produced a detoxified oligosaccharide (OS) covalently linked to an immunogenic carrier such as tetanus toxoid, and adjuvants such as alum. The vaccines can potentially be used as a vaccine component in a combination vaccine containing other pediatric vaccine components.

Applications:
Vaccines for the prevention of respiratory infections and otitis media caused by Moraxella catarrhalis.

Advantages:

• Novel vaccine candidates
• LOS is a conserved antigen

Development Status:
In vitro and in vivo (mouse animal model) data is available and can be provided upon request.

Inventors:
Xin-xing Gu (NIDCD)
John B Robbins (NICHD)


Patent Status:
HHS, Reference No. E-264-1997/0
US, , Patent No. 6,685,949, Issued 03 Feb 2004
US, , Patent No. 7,641,906, Issued 05 Jan 2010
US, Application No. 60/071,483 filed 13 Jan 1998
PCT, Application No. PCT/US99/00590 filed 12 Jan 1999
PCT, Application No. PCT/US01/32331 filed 16 Oct 2001


Relevant Publication:

1. Manuscripts in preparation, available upon request under a confidential disclosure agreement.

Licensing Status:
Available for licensing.

Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Vaccine Research Section, is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize the subject technology. Please contact Brian W. Bailey, Ph.D. at 301-594-4094 or bbailey@mail.nih.gov for more information.


Portfolios:
Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases - Vaccines
Rare Diseases
In-vivo Data
In-vitro Data



For Additional Information Please Contact:
Kevin Chang Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: changke@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-5018
Fax: 301-402-0220


Ref No: 2101

Updated: 06/2010