The data were presented by Alan Cross, professor of medicine and Subhendu Basu, assistant professor at University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Valortim is a fully human anti-toxin monoclonal antibody being developed for the prevention and treatment of inhalational anthrax. Preclinical studies suggest that Valortim has the potential to provide protection against anthrax infection when administered prophylactically (prior to the emergence of symptoms of anthrax infection) and also may increase survival when administered therapeutically (once symptoms become evident).
Reportedly, the previous data presented by Drs Cross and Basu have shown that in addition to inhibiting anthrax toxin, Valortim appears to augment the immune system’s ability to kill anthrax bacilli by enhancing the human dendritic cell response to a challenge with anthrax spores.
The company said that the new data expand upon these observations by showing that Valortim also enhances the human T cell response to B anthracis. In addition to Valortim’s established toxin-neutralising function, which has been previously described, these studies indicate that it may also assist in enhancing the adaptive immune response to anthrax, which may lead to a reduction and clearance of the bacteria in the host organism.
Dr Alan Cross, professor of medicine of school of medicine at University of Maryland, said: “Our latest research using human immune cells provides additional evidence of the role Valortim may play in enhancing the elimination of B anthracis to potentially minimise the severity of infection. We hypothesize that Valortim may protect against lethal anthrax infection by its toxin neutralisation activity that allows the development of a potent adaptive immune response that facilitates the elimination of harmful bacteria in a host organism.”
David Wright, president and CEO of PharmAthene, said: “Drs Cross and Basu continue to make progress demonstrating how Valortim may interact with the immune system to potentially minimise the extent and severity of infection with bacillus anthracis. These data, combined with the accumulating non-clinical efficacy results in animal models, continue to show how Valortim may have important differentiating benefits, which, if confirmed, may make it a strong choice for procurement consideration in the Strategic National Stockpile.”