Enhanced Malaria Vaccine Compositions and Methods
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept relates to improved compositions and methods for generating an immune response to treat or prevent malaria, addressing limitations of existing vaccine compositions and methods.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed compositions and methods for generating an immune response to malaria using recombinant MVA viral vectors. However, these compositions and methods had limitations, such as reactogenicity and limited immunogenicity. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing adjuvants, cytokine expression, and targeted immune cell activation to enhance immunogenicity and reduce reactogenicity.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The new inventive concept encompasses four main aspects: (1) a method for generating an immune response to malaria using a recombinant MVA viral vector encoding a Plasmodium falciparum immunogenic polypeptide, formulated with an adjuvant to enhance immunogenicity and reduce reactogenicity; (2) a system for preventing or treating malaria, comprising a vaccine composition including the recombinant MVA viral vector and a device for administering the vaccine composition in a controlled and targeted manner; (3) a recombinant MVA viral vector engineered to express a cytokine that enhances immune response and reduces adverse reactions; and (4) a method for boosting an immune response to malaria using the recombinant MVA viral vector designed to target specific immune cells and enhance their activation and proliferation.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce novel features, such as adjuvant formulation, cytokine expression, and targeted immune cell activation, which are not present in the original patent. These features provide a significant improvement over the existing compositions and methods, making the new inventive concept non-obvious and novel.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include using different adjuvants, cytokines, or immune cell targets. Variations of the system may include different devices for administering the vaccine composition or different formulations of the recombinant MVA viral vector.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The enhanced malaria vaccine compositions and methods have significant commercial potential in the vaccine industry, particularly in regions where malaria is prevalent. The targeted and controlled administration of the vaccine composition using a device may also appeal to healthcare providers and patients seeking more effective and safer treatments.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61K39/015 |
| A | A61 | A61K9/0019 |
| A | A61 | A61K47/6901 |
| A | A61 | A61P33/06 |
| A | A61 | A61K2039/5256 |
| A | A61 | A61K2039/54 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Vaccine development and immunology, specifically focused on recombinant viral vector vaccines for infectious diseases, with expertise in genetic engineering of viral vectors, immunological response modulation, and vaccine formulation strategies
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A skilled researcher with advanced degrees in molecular biology or immunology, experienced in viral vector design, vaccine development, and understanding of immune system interactions, familiar with genetic modification techniques and vaccine adjuvant technologies
Obviousness Rationale
A person skilled in the art would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's core MVA viral vector vaccine technology. The proposed modifications of adding adjuvants, targeting specific immune cells, and engineering cytokine expression are well-established techniques in vaccine development that would be obvious to implement based on the foundational MVA vector approach disclosed in the source patent. These variations represent standard optimization strategies that a skilled researcher would naturally explore to enhance vaccine efficacy and reduce potential adverse reactions.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,611 |
|---|---|
| Title | Compositions and methods for generating an immune response to treat or prevent malaria |
| Assignee(s) | GeoVax, Inc. |