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news.DOR BioPharma has completed a one year interim analysis which demonstrates the long-term stability of RiVax, a key ingredient in a vaccine intended to protect against ricin in the event of a bioterrorism attack.
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A vaccine for ricin is considered by many the best way to prospectively protect certain human populations who are at risk of exposure. Since this vaccine would presumably be added to the Strategic National Stockpile and dispensed in the case of a terrorist attack, the activity of the vaccine must be maintained over a period of years under potential stockpile storage conditions.
DOR has studied the stability of the RiVax immunogen using a variety of spectral techniques which have shown that materials can be added to solutions of the protein to maintain a stable configuration. Without stabilization of the protein structure, the ricin A chain subunit component is extremely sensitive to elevated temperatures and forms aggregates and other complexes that negatively affect shelf life.
DOR has recently received $4.8 million of continued grant funding from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in order to create a vaccine product that will have sufficient stability for the Strategic National Stockpile of biodefense countermeasures.