Treatment and Preventative for Herpes Simplex Virus-2
JHU REF: 12627
Invention Novelty: This technology is an antibody-toxin fusion therapeutic for treatment and prevention of HSV-2.
Value Proposition:
HSV infects 85% of the global population and 73% of the American population. Currently, there is no cure for HSV infection. This technology is an antibody-based treatment that prevents transmission as well as infection of HSV-2 that can be developed into a microbicide HSV-2 prevention gel. Other advantages include:
- First class of treatments that can prevent transmission as well as kill infected cells
- Unlikely to become resistant due to specificity to conserved domain of HSV-2 protein
Technical Details
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a llama-derived single domain antibody (VHH) specific for herpes-simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) fused to a toxin for prevention of HSV-2 transmission or treatment. The purified protein of an HSV-2 invariable protein was used to immunize llamas. Next, a phage display library to isolate a specific VHH was created, fused to a toxin, and subsequently tested in an appropriate in vitro neutralization assay. The derived VHH-toxin complex completely prevented herpes infection in an in vitro system by destroying infected cells.
Looking for Partners: To develop & commercialize the technology as an HSV-2 preventing microbicide or, possibly, a curative treatment.
Stage of Development: [Pre-Clinical]
Data Availability: Under CDA/NDA
Patent Status: Pending
Publication(s)/Associated Cases: Issued US Patent 10,010,625 PMC4291438
Categories: Therapeutic
Keywords: HSV-2, VHH, single domain antibody, llama, microbicide
