Liposomal technology to help develop HIV vaccine
The 'Development of a new vaccine against HIV: virosomes incorporating HIV proteins' (HIV virosomes) project had as its objective the development of a preventive HIV vaccine based on a direct approach from laboratory to proof-of-concept studies in non-human primates. Researchers proposed testing virus-like particles (VLPs) that would incorporate primary HIV or recombinant proteins with native conformation into liposomes. The liposomes, with predefined properties, were generated as required using an earlier established, large-scale liposomal technology. The resulting virosomes were used as a prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine against HIV-1 infection. Project researchers succeeded in stabilising the composition and conformation of native and recombinant HIV envelope proteins in liposomes. On the strength of small animal immunisation studies, HIV virosomes project members were also able to choose candidate vaccines. They successfully established immunogenicity and, eventually, efficacy in their rhesus macaque model, and established a process in line with good manufacturing practices (GMP) for production of clinical material. The project's results hold potential in its technological advances and approach design. And, importantly, the low production cost of the vaccine, its stable features and possibility for administration in needle-free form make it an ideal approach that could fulfil the needs of developing countries.
