Julianna Lisziewicz, president and CEO of the Genetic Immunity, was interviewed on the VLP meeting in November in Cannes
Julianna Lisziewicz, president and CEO of the
company Genetic Immunity, presented a therapeutic
vaccine approach that’s based on synthetic
nanoparticles and intended to induce an immune
response that kills infected cells in HIV-infected
individuals. The immunotherapy, as Lisziewicz
calls it, is named DermaVir and consists of synthetic
nanoparticles with diameters between 70 nm to
300 nm. Each carries a single plasmid DNA inside
that encodes all 15 HIV proteins, two of which are
nonfunctional to ensure that the resulting HIV particles
cannot integrate or replicate (Vaccine 29, 744,
2011). This, Lisziewicz said, makes DermaVir the
most complete vaccine modality in terms of the
number of HIV epitopes used.
Before DermaVir is used, a rough sponge is
rubbed over the application site to disrupt the outermost
epidermal layer (stratum corneum). Then
the skin area is covered for three hours with about
1013 nanoparticles, which are applied as a liquid
and contained by a patch. To improve the immune
response, the patches are applied at different locations,
so that responses are simultaneously activated
inside a number of different lymph nodes.
Lisziewicz said data from mice, rabbits and
monkeys show that some of the particles are
taken up by Langerhans cells, the antigen presenting
cells (APCs) of the skin. They then carry
the particles with them as they migrate to lymph
nodes, mature into DCs and express the HIV
genes from the nanoparticles. The resulting HIV
VLPs contain all HIV proteins but cannot integrate
into the genome or replicate. For further information please see the full article (page 7).
September 28, 2012
Amerikai Tőzsdén a Genetic Immunity
Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. (PWRV), és a Genetic Immunity Inc. örömmel jelenti be, hogy mostantól a részvényeik együtt forognak az OTC BB tőzsde piacán. A Genetic Immunity személyre szabott immunterápiákat fejleszt, amelyek piacát 2018-ra mintegy 11 milliárd USD-ra becsülik a szakértők. A teljes cikket PDF formátumbanletölthetik innnen.
August 20, 2012
Topol on The Creative Destruction of Medicine
Dr. Eric Topol tries to get into critical aspects of how they can Schumpeter or reboot the future of healthcare by leveraging the big innovations that are occurring in the digital world, including digital medicine. For the full article please follow this link to Medscape.
August 03, 2012
Cure of AIDS?
The XIX. International AIDS Conference has been finished and Dr. Lisziewicz was interviewed by "index.hu" Hungarian news portal. The Hungarian article can be opened here.
July 21, 2012
Pre-Conference Symposium: "Towards an HIV Cure" followed by the XIX. International AIDS Conference July 22-27 in Washington
Dr. Lisziewicz presented the LB poster "Nanomedicine boosting broadly directed central memory T cells towards the eradication of HIV" on the Pre-Conference Symposium. It was a tribute and an honor, that considering her role in the industry Dr. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi invited Dr. Lisziewicz to participate on the ICG mmeting held during the Conference. (see invitation and Member list)
July 09, 2012
Drs. Lisziewicz and Toke from Genetic Immunity team discuss “Nanomedicine applications towards the cure of HIV” in Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine (available on line) 2012 Elsevier Inc.
Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) successfully suppresses HIV replication. However, daily and lifelong treatment is necessary to manage patient illness because cART neither eradicates infected cells from reservoirs nor reconstitutes HIV-specific immunity that could kill infected cells. Toward the cure of HIV, different nanomedicine classes have been developed with the following disease-modifying properties:
to eradicate the virus by activation of latently infected CD4+ T-cells and reservoirs flushing; to kill the infected cells in the reservoirs by boosting of HIV-specific T cells; and to prevent infection by the use of microbicides with improved epithelial penetration and drug half-life. Preclinical and clinical trials consistently demonstrated that DermaVir, the most advanced nanomedicine, induces long-lasting memory T-cell responses and reduces viral load in comparison with placebo. DermaVir and the nanomedicine pipelines have the potential to improve the health of HIV-infected people at lower costs, to decrease antiretroviral drug exposure, and to contribute to the cure of HIV/AIDS.
Febuary 23, 2012
Dr. Franco Lori in Expert Reviews - "DermaVir: a plasmid DNA-based nanomedicine therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of HIV/AIDS"
The HIV global pandemic continues to rage with over 33 million people living with the disease. Although multidrug therapy has improved the prognosis for those infected by the virus, it has not eradicated the infection. Immunological therapies, including therapeutic vaccines, are needed to supplement drug therapy in the search for a ‘functional cure’ for HIV. DermaVir (Genetic Immunity Kft, Budapest, Hungary and McLean, Virginia, USA), an experimental HIV/AIDS therapeutic vaccine, combines three key elements of rational therapeutic vaccine design: a single plasmid DNA (pDNA) immunogen expressing 15 HIV antigens, a synthetic pDNA nanomedicine formulation and a dendritic cell-targeting topical-vaccine administration. DermaVir’s novel mechanism of action, natural transport by epidermal Langerhans cells to the lymph nodes to express the pDNA-encoded HIV antigens and induce precursor/memory T cells with high proliferation capacity, has been consistently demonstrated in mouse, rabbit, primate and human subjects. Safety, immunogenicity and preliminary efficacy of DermaVir have been clinically demonstrated in HIV-infected human subjects. The DermaVir technology platform for dendritic cell-based therapeutic vaccination might offer a new treatment paradigm for cancer and infectious diseases. (Read more in Expert Reviews)
Febuary 13, 2012
NIH is sponsoring a clinical trial testing DermaVir in 72 HIV-positive adolescents
Genetic Immunity Inc. develops proprietary immunotherapeutics and personalize them by genetic sequence analysis. Our products express DNA-encoded antigens in dendritic cells when topically administered with our CE-marked medical device. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently sponsoring a clinical trial testing DermaVir in 72 HIV-positive adolescents. We plan to start a Phase III clinical study on 550 HIV-positive adults with personalized DermaVir immunotherapy, our lead product candidate towards the cure of HIV, in 2012.
January 25, 2012
LiveScience: New Vaccine Approach Gives Hope to Those Living with HIV
Most people think of vaccines as a preventative measure, and early efforts to control HIV were focused on that strategy. The problem is that even though some are promising, preventing infection doesn’t do any good for the 34 million people worldwide who are already infected. To stop the spread, the key might be a post-infection vaccine. (to read the full article please click here.)
The CEO of Genetic Immunity, Dr. Julianna Lisziewicz presents the Digital Personalized Medicine approach of DermaVir, the phase II stage therapeutic vaccine against HIV/AIDS at World Vaccine Congress Washington (10 – 13 April 2012, Gaylord National Convention Center, MD, USA.)
Abstract:
Introduction of Digital Personal Medicine (DPM) with DermaVir
Why do we need to personalize DermaVir and other therapeutic vaccines?
DermaVir, the first DPM: How does it work?
Safety and preliminary efficacy of repeated DermaVir immunizations: phase II results from the US and EU
Challenges and potential solutions in the development of DPM
Facilitating executive level commentary, communication and partnerships between the industry's elite, World Vaccine Congress Washington is where leaders of the World's vaccine community meet to influence and evolve the future of the vaccine industry. Click here for website of World Vaccine Conference.
November 01, 2011
Structure and biological activity of pathogen-like synthetic nanomedicines
Here we characterize the structure, stability and intracellular mode of action of DermaVir nanomedicine that is under clinical development for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This nanomedicine comprises pathogen-like pDNA/PEIm nanoparticles (NPs) having the structure and function resembling spherical viruses that naturally evolved to deliver nucleic acids to the cells. Atomic force microscopy demonstrated spherical 100 – 200 nm NPs with a smooth polymer surface protecting the pDNA in the core. Optical absorption determined both the NP structural stability and biological activity relevant to their ability to escape from the endosome and release the pDNA at the nucleus. Salt, pH and temperature influence nanomedicine shelf-life and intracellular stability. This approach facilitates the development of diverse polyplex
nanomedicines where the delivered pDNA-expressed antigens induce immune responses to kill infected cells. Click here to go ScienceDirect.
September 20, 2011
Rational Design of Formulated DNA Vaccines: The DermaVir Approach
Gene Vaccines book has been published recently containing a book chapter about our new technology to formulate DNA vaccines. Abstract:DermaVir features three key technological elements of a rational vaccine design: a single plasmid DNA immunogen to express 15 HIV antigens, a synthetic pDNA nanomedicine formulation and a topical dendritic cell-targeting vaccine administration. Its novel mechanism of action has been consistently demonstrated in mice, rabbits, primates and human subjects: DermaVir nanomedicine is naturally transported by epidermal Langerhans cells to the lymph nodes to express the plasmid DNA-encoded HIV antigens and induce precursor/memory T cells with high proliferation capacity. Safety, immunogenicity and preliminary efficacy of DermaVir have been clinically demonstrated in HIV-infected human subjects. DC-based therapeutic vaccination might offer a new treatment paradigm for cancer and infectious diseases. For more details please click here.
May 18, 2011
Swiss NanoConvention 2011
18./19. Mai 2011, Kultur- und Kongresszentrum TRAFO Baden, Schweiz www.swiss-nanoconvention.ch.
Dr. Julianna Lisziewicz was invited to address Genetic Immunity's nanomedicine concept, development activities and vision. In her presentation entitled "Boosting the immune system with DermaVir Nanomedicine: can it change the treatment paradigm of HIV?" she explained how the Company's personalized immune therapy would boost the immune system to fight against HIV. Click here for the abstract.
May 11, 2011
Barcelona Vaccine & Active Immunotherapeutics Forum 2011
Dr Julianna Lisziewicz was invited to present Genetic Immunity's studies on "DermaVir active immunotherapy for HIV: A technology for induction of Th1 type cellular immunity and clinical results"
At the session entitled "Chronic infectious diseases – HIV, HPV and HCV: Is prevention or therapy the answer?"
She highlighted that DermaVir therapy exhibits its specific pharmacologic effects by boosting the patient's own immune system to kill HIV-infected cells. Viremia persists in the reservoirs even after 7 years of fully suppressive HAART therefore eradication of HIV with HAART alone does not seem to be feasible. An alternative strategy would be to cure HIV by reaching a remission, similarly to cancer. The Company believes that DermaVir treatment will reduce the amount of HIV-infected cells remaining in the reservoirs in patients treated with HAART and after successful reconstitution of the HIV-specific immune system control of HIV in the absence of HAART might be achieved. DermaVir could change the HIV treatment paradigm by giving patients an option for a safe interruption of life-long drug treatment by boosting their own immune system to prevail HIV disease. (For the official website, please click here.)
March 30, 2011
Innovation in Healthcare: from Research to Market
Julianna Lisziewicz was invited to present the unique growth case of Genetic Immunity in the session on Fostering Entrepreneurship on the two-days Health Conference of the European Commision in Bussels, Flagey. (For the official website, please click here.). To load the conference report in PDF format, please click here and load the summary of the conference in PDF format, please click here.
November 16, 2010
Selected Medicines and Vaccines in Development for HIV/AIDS
Here you can read a part of the PhRMA's article about the "Selected Medicines and Vaccines in Development for HIV/AIDS":
"Vaccine to Treat HIV – Another vaccine candidate in development is a topical, therapeutic vaccine, administered through a skin patch. The vaccine is comprised of DNA plasmids carrying HIV genes and is designed to stimulate HIV-specific T-cell immune responses that suppress virus replication and destroy and eliminate the HIV-infected cells. The novel mechanism of action makes the vaccine potentially useful for patients with early-stage HIV infection, who are not yet eligible for antiretroviral therapy under current treatment guidelines."
Using a Vaccine to Boost the Immune System against HIV
The interview Dr. Franco Lori gave in Vienna with Fred Schaich of IFARA is now on-line through You Tube.
October 25, 2010
DermaVir is highlighted in DAIDS review of nanotechnology and HIV in the November/December edition of WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology
Nanotechnology and HIV: Potential applications for treatment and prevention
Peter Kim and Sarah Read of the Division of AIDS review the current treatment of HIV and how the emergence of nanotechnology may improve both treatment and prevention in the future. The authors highlight Genetic Immunity’s DermaVir as an example of an innovative way of delivering immune-based therapies.
Click here to read the article on the Wires.
October 20, 2010
Nanomedicine Could Revolutionize Cancer, HIV Research
Gwyneth Shaw covered the Potomac Nanomedicine meeting and highlighted DermaVir in the October 20th edition of the New Haven Independent. Click here to read the article.
August 24, 2010
Business Insights: Innovations and Opportunities in Therapeutic Vaccines
Business Insights would like to announce the release of the brand new report, Innovations and Opportunities in Therapeutic Vaccines.
Therapeutic vaccines promise a new wave of highly potent and highly specific therapeutic agents designed to work in harmony with patients' own immune systems. Recent advances in understanding of the human immune system and in technical capabilities have allowed vaccines to move beyond pre-emptive (prophylactic) immunization and into the treatment of established diseases. This brand new drug discovery report will be of specific interest to research and development divisions, decision makers and new product departments in the pharmaceutical industry due to its detailed research into global therapeutics and diagnostics, and up-to-date profiles of the leading market players and product case studies...
To see the full article click here.
July 29, 2010
BIOtechNOW: International AIDS Conference Unveils Four New “Next Generation” Treatments for HIV
New data presented at the 2010 International AIDS Conference showed significant momentum for the emerging fields of therapeutic vaccines, anti-immune hyperactivation, and other immune based therapies for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
To see the full article on biotech-now.org, click here.
July 29, 2010
The Huffington Post: AIDS Will Be Conquered
Through its six days of presentations for 19,000 attendees, hundreds of seminars and more than 4,000 scientific 'posters' examining every aspect of AIDS, the single message that stands out from the XVIII International AIDS Conference, which ended in Vienna last week, is the cumulative progress on every front -- prevention, treatment, basic science and human rights...
To see the full article on www.huffingtonpost.com, click here.
July 27, 2010
NatureNews.com: Therapeutic HIV vaccines show promise
"Normal vaccines are designed to prevent infections, but so far none has worked for HIV. Therapeutic vaccines, in contrast, aim to treat infected people — in the case of HIV, by boosting ravaged immune systems. Initial clinical trials in the 1990s were disappointing, however, and the vaccines fell from scientific fashion."
To see the full article on nature.com, click here.
July 26, 2010
Importance of Therapeutic HIV Vaccine
Conversation with Carl Diffenbach after the Internationa AIDS conference.
July 26, 2010
GI in the Hungarian TV (M1) - "Ma Reggel"
July 26, 2010
DermaVir in Figyelő (Observer) business magazine
A hungarian article in Figyelő (Observer) business magazine was released about the DermaVir Patch. To see the full article click here
July 23, 2010
Medical News TODAY: Some coverage from the NAPWA Symposium - XVIII International AIDS Conference
New data presented by researchers at the XVIII International AIDS Conference this week shows significant momentum for the emerging field of therapeutic vaccines, immune hyperactivation, and other immune based therapies, according to officials from National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and The AIDS Institute, two of the leading USA-based patient advocacy organizations. The data were presented at a special community forum, titled "Research Advances from Therapeutic Vaccines and Other Immune-Based Therapies."
(for the full story on Medical News TODAY click here)
July 22, 2010
"Next Generation" HIV/AIDS Treatments Featured in NAPWA and The AIDS Institute's Community Forum at XVIII International AIDS Conference
Four Therapeutic Vaccines Show Efficacy; Other Leading Therapeutic HIV Vaccines, Anti-Immune Hyperactivation, and Immune-Based Therapies Hit Milestones
(Vienna, Austria 22 July 2010) New data presented by researchers at the XVIII International AIDS Conference this week shows significant momentum for the emerging field of therapeutic vaccines, immune hyperactivation, and other immune based therapies, according to officials from National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and The AIDS Institute, two of the leading USA-based patient advocacy organizations. The data were presented at a special community forum, titled “Research Advances from Therapeutic Vaccines and Other Immune-Based Therapies...
(for more information please click here or to download the Press Release with the Key Developments Backgrounder click here).
July 13, 2010
In Vienna for NAPWA
NAPWA released: Research Advances from Therapeutic HIV Vaccines and
Other Immune-Based Therapies” to be Showcased at NAPWA Sponsored
Community Treatment Research Forum at XVIII World AIDS Conference
To download the Press Release click here or read here the article on MarketWire.
June 12, 2010
Genetic Immunity in the next round of CEVF
Genetic Immunity was selected as one of the top ten companies at the Central European Venture Forum 2010 in Budapest.
The company presented its project to develop DermaVir therapeutic vaccine against HIV/AIDS for the market. The product has just finished phase II clinical trials and showed excellent safety, tolerability and treatment efficacy in HIV+ individuals. The data will be presented at AIDS International 18-23 July, 2010 in Vienna, Austria.
Genetic Immunity received a free ticket to present at the European Venture Summit (EVS) held on 6-7 December 2010 in Düsseldorf, Germany and also qualified for the EVC 2010 Top 100 companies from which experts will select the top 25 most innovative companies who will be given the opportunity to present and compete at The Final Jury & Award Ceremony in Spain, in December 2010.
The presentation of the company received higher scores than the average for every individual point of business consideration.
"We are very proud of these results achieved in a highly competitive field and awarded by top level international business and investment experts." – said Zsolt Lisziewicz, the COO of Genetic Immunity.
The European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine (CLINAM) will hold its next conference in May in Basel. It is a very prestigious conference of the European Nanomedicine Society, Julianna Lisziewicz will also give an oral presentation. Registration and abstract submission is still open, please see the call and the preliminary program. (www.clinam.org)
April 29, 2010
The 1st therapeutic vaccine against prostate cancer is approved by FDA.
SEATTLE, April 29, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq: DNDN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PROVENGE(R) (sipuleucel-T), an autologous cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic, castrate-resistant (hormone-refractory) prostate cancer (CRPC). PROVENGE is designed to induce an immune response against prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), an antigen expressed in most prostate cancers, and is the first in a new therapeutic class known as autologous cellular immunotherapies... (for the full article please
click here.)
April 07, 2010
GI in the "alkotonok.hu"
Dr Julianna Lisziewicz CEO of GI, gave an interview to "alkotonok.hu" online magazin. To read the full article - also in english and german -
click here.
