Glen Clova Scientific have already demonstrated that their virus-like particle (VLP) platform can induce antibodies to protect against overproduction of hormone-like proteins (cytokines) that drive inflammatory skin conditions, asthma, and other chronic diseases.
Our immune system is designed to respond to foreign proteins, and usually the body won’t make antibodies to “self” proteins like cytokines; VLP immunisation overcomes that barrier. Previously, the company showed that mice immunized with a mouse cytokine IL-31, which causes intense itching in dermatological conditions, prevented that itching. This proved that effective antibodies to self-proteins can be produced and they are protective.
Now the company has used technology, as close as possible to use in humans, to demonstrate that their VLP will work in the clinic. To do this, they have used mice genetically modified to express human IL-31 and the human Il-31 (itch) receptor. When immunised with GCS’s VLP, coated with human IL-31, these humanised mice produce protective antibodies at high levels.
The graph above shows the level of antibody (titre) against time post vaccination for the humanised mice (black filled dots – one dot equals one mouse) versus normal “wild type” mice (open dots). Wild-type mice would be expected to respond to a foreign protein like human IL-31, but the outstanding result is that the humanised mice respond to the human IL-31 at therapeutically effective levels.
Glen Clova will pursue the human products with partners, but due to the shorter route to market, Glen Clova will develop its canine IL-31 product first. The company expects the first in dog use later this year.
