IVT secures key US patent

ImmunoVaccine Technologies, a US vaccine development firm, has received patent approval from the Japanese Patent Office for its vaccine platform. The specific patent, Vaccines with enhanced immune response and methods for their preparation, claims broad exclusivity that an effective, long-term immune response to treat a disease can be produced using a vaccine comprising of an antigen, an adjuvant, vesicles known as liposomes and a hydrophobic carrier.

"We have a novel technology that enhances vaccines dramatically, so receiving patent approval is important in protecting our competitive advantage," said Marc Mansour, vice president R&D at IVT.

The company's VacciMax technology is based on a novel approach to the use of liposomes in an oil emulsion. IVT has discovered that liposomes, stabilized in the VacciMax technology, significantly enhance antibody production, creating a more rapid immune response, following a single vaccination. The responses are also long lasting, without requiring booster immunizations, the firm added.