WO1999052549A1

WO1999052549A1 - Adjuvant compositions

Info

Publication number: WO1999052549A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/002278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Friede; Philippe Hermand
Original assignee: Smithkline Beecham Biologicals S.A.
Priority date: 1998-04-09
Filing date: 1999-03-29
Publication date: 1999-10-21
Also published as: EP1069910A1; TR200002930T2; PL354714A1; HUP0101619A2; NO20005051L; CN1296416A; NZ506603A; HUP0101619A3; AU3419799A; AR019026A1; IL138000A0; BR9909915A; JP2002511423A; CA2325939A1; AU746163B2; NO20005051D0; KR20010042573A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjuvant composition comprising a polyoxyethylene ether or a polyoxyethylene ester, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and to a vaccine comprising such adjuvant compositions and antigen. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of polyoxyethylene ethers or esters in the manufacture of adjuvant formulations, and vaccine formulations, and their use as medicaments.

Description

ADJUVANT COMPOSITIONS

The present invention relates to an adjuvant composition comprising a polyoxyethylene ether or polyoxyethylene ester, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and to a vaccine comprising such adjuvant compositions and antigen. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of polyoxyethylene ethers or esters in the manufacture of an adjuvant formulations, and vaccine formulations, and their use as medicaments.

Mucosal vaccination, for example intranasal and oral, may represent an easy and more convenient way of vaccination than traditional vaccination through systemic injection. The use of an injection to administer a vaccine dose is associated with a number of disadvantages, namely pain and irritation at the injection site following injection. These factors may lead to "needle-fear" which has been known to result in poor patient compliance for vaccination regimes. Furthermore, conventional systemic injections can be a source of infection in the region of the skin puncture.

Apart from bypassing the requirement for injection, mucosal vaccination is attractive since it has been shown in animals that mucosal administration of antigens has a greater efficiency of inducing protective responses at mucosal surfaces, which is the route of entry of many pathogens. In addition, it has been suggested that mucosal vaccination, such as intranasal vaccination, may induce mucosal immunity not only in the nasal mucosa, but also in distant mucosal sites such as the genital mucosa (Mestecky, 1987, Journal of Clinical Immunology, 7, 265-276; McGhee and Kiyono, Infectious Agents and Disease, 1993, 2, 55-73).

In order for mucosal immunisation to be a viable replacement for, or alternative to, immunisation through injection, this vaccination route will have to be able to induce systemic immunological responses at least as efficiently as those induced by injection. While it has been reported that certain antigens when administered via this route are able to induce systemic responses (Cahill et α/.,1993, FEMS Microbiology Letters, 107, 211-216), most soluble antigens given intranasally by themselves induce little or no immune response.

A number of authors have investigated potential mucosal adjuvants to overcome this problem, which exert their adjuvant activity through various mechanisms including: encapsulation of the antigen (e.g. liposomes and microparticles); or via direct interaction with, and subsequent release of immunostimulatory cytokines from, target cells (e.g. cholera toxin and E.coli heat-labile toxin); or by enhancing the uptake of antigen across the epithelium (e.g. cholera toxin).

The applicant presents here the surprising finding that polyoxyethylene ethers and polyoxyethylene esters act as a potent adjuvants for vaccines. The adjuvants of the present invention are safe, easily sterilisable, and simple to administer. Advantageously, such compositions are sufficient to induce systemic immune responses when administered mucosally, which are at least as high as those observed after conventional systemic injection of the vaccine.

Polyoxyethylene ethers such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether are described in the Merck index (12^th ed: entry 7717), where therapeutic uses are stated to include: topical anesthetic; anti-pruritic; and sclerosing agent activities. As a class, such polyoxyethylene ethers, or esters, are non-ionic surfactants.

Intranasal administration of polyoxyethylene ethers and esters have been described for the enhancement of insulin uptake in the nasal cavity (Hirai et al. 1981, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 9, 165-172; Hirai et al. 1981, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 9, 173-184).

Other non-ionic surfactants have been utilised in vaccine formulations. It has been reported that vaccine preparations comprising an admixture of either polyoxyethylene castor oil or caprylic/capric acid glycerides, with polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoesters, and an antigen, are capable of inducing systemic immune responses after topical administration to a mucosal membrane (WO 9417827). This patent application discloses the combination of TWEEN20™ (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoester) and Imwitor742™ (caprylic/capric acid glycerides), or a combination of TWEEN20™ and polyoxyethylene castor oil is able to enhance the systemic immune response following intranasal immunisation. Details of the effect of this formulation on the enhancement of the immune response towards intranasally administered antigens have also been described in the literature (Gizurarson et al. 1996. Vaccine Research, 5, 69-75; Aggerbeck etα/. 1997. Vaccine, 15, 307-316).

Novasomes (US 5, 147,725) are paucilamenar vesicular structures comprising

Polyoxyethylene ethers and cholesterol encapsulate the antigen and are capable of adjuvanting the immune response to antigens after systemic administration.

Surfactants have also been formulated in such a way as to form non-ionic surfactant vesicles (commonly known as neosomes, WO 95/09651). Such vesicles, in the presence of cholesterol form lipid-bilayer vesicles which are capable of entrapping antigen within the inner aqueous phase or within the bilayer itself.

We present here the surprising finding that relatively low concentrations of polyoxyethylene ethers or esters are able to significantly enhance the systemic immune response towards co-administered antigens. Furthermore, when used in mucosal vaccine formulations, the boosting effect of these adjuvants raises the systemic immunological responses to a level equal or superior to that achieved by conventional systemic injection of the antigen. These molecules represent a class of adjuvants suitable for application in humans either for conventional systemic vaccine purposes, or to replace systemic vaccination by mucosal vaccination.

As many available vaccine adjuvants function because of antigen encapsulation, surprisingly the present invention functions as a potent vaccine adjuvants in the form of a non- vesicular solution or suspension. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides for an adjuvant formulation comprising a surfactant of formula (I), O 99/52549

which is present in the form of a non- vesicular solution or suspension. Another embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a vaccine adjuvant comprising a surfactant of formula (I), formulated in the absence of cholesterol.

Vaccines and adjuvant formulations of the present invention comprise molecules of general formula (I): HO(CH₂CH₂O)_n-A-R wherein, n is 1-50, A is a bond or -C(O)-, R is C,.₅₀ alkyl or Phenyl C,._J0 alkyl.

One embodiment of the present invention consists of a vaccine formulation comprising a polyoxyethylene ether of general formula (I), wherein n is between 1 and 50, preferably 4-24, most preferably 9; the R component is C^o, preferably C₄-C₂₀ alkyl and most preferably C_I2 alkyl, and A is a bond. The concentration of the polyoxyethylene ethers should be in the range 0.1-20%, preferably from 0.1-10%, and most preferably in the range 0.1-1%. Preferred polyoxyethylene ethers are selected from the following group: polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-9-steoryl ether, polyoxyethylene-8-steoryl ether, polyoxyethylene-4-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-35-lauryl ether, and polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl ether.

A further embodiment of the present invention consists of a vaccine composition comprising a polyoxyethylene ester of general formula (I), wherein n is between 1 and 50, preferably 4-24, most preferably 9; R is C,._J0, preferably C₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and most preferably C₁₂ alkyl, and A is -C(O)-. The concentration of the polyoxyethylene ester should be in the range 0.1-20%, preferably from 0.1-10%, and most preferably in the range 0.1-1%. Preferred polyoxyethylene esters are selected from the following group: polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl esters, polyoxyethylene-9-steoryl esters, polyoxyethylene-8-steoryl esters, polyoxyethylene-4-lauryl esters, polyoxyethylene- 35-lauryl esters, and polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl esters.

Also forming an embodiment of the present invention are vaccine compositions comprising polyoxyethylene phenyl ethers of general formula (I), wherein n is

4 between 1 and 50 but preferably 4-24 and most preferably 9, R is C,.₅₀ phenyl alkyl, preferably C₄ - C₂₀ phenyl alkyl, and most preferably C₁₂ phenyl alkyl, and A is a bond. The concentration of the polyoxyethylene ethers should preferably be in the range 0.1-10%, and most preferably in the range 0.25-1%.

The vaccine preparations of the present invention may be used to protect or treat a mammal susceptible to, or suffering from disease, by means of administering said vaccine via a mucosal route, such as the oral/bucal/intestinal/vaginal rectal or nasal route. Such administration may be in a droplet, spray, or dry powdered form. Nebulised or aerosolised vaccine formulations also form part of this invention. Enteric formulations such as gastro resistant capsules and granules for oral administration, suppositories for rectal or vaginal adrrώiistration also form part of this invention. The present invention may also be used to enhance the immunogenicity of antigens applied to the skin (transdermal or transcutaneous delivery). In addition, the adjuvants of the present invention may be parentally delivered, for example intramuscular, or subcutaneous administration, characterised in that the adjuvants are not in the form of a vesicle.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for an adjuvant for use in mucosal vaccine formulations. Such adjuvants are well tolerated in humans and are potent in their induction of systemic immune responses. The adjuvants of the present invention may take the form of a solution, or non- vesicular solution or suspension, and as such do not have any of the problems associated with the manufacture, stability, uniformity, and quality control of particulate adjuvant systems. These formulations are potent adjuvants and also exhibit low reactogenicity and are well tolerated by patients.

Preferably, the polyoxyethylene ethers of the present invention have haemolytic activity. The haemolytic activity of a polyoxyethylene ether may be measured in vitro, with reference to the following assay, and is as expressed as the highest concentration of the detergent which fails to cause lysis of the red blood cells: 1. Fresh blood from guinea pigs is washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS)

3 times in a desk-top centrifuge. After resuspension to the original volume the blood is further diluted 10 fold in PBS. 2. 50 μl of this blood suspension is added to 800 μl of PBS containing two-fold dilutions of detergent.

3. After 8 hours the haemolysis is assessed visually or by measuring the optical density of the supernatant. The presence of a red supernatant, which absorbs light at

570 nm indicates the presence of haemolysis. 4. The results are expressed as the concentration of the first detergent dilution at which hemolysis no longer occurs.

Within the inherent experimental variability of such a biological assay, the polyoxyethylene ethers, or surfactants of general formula (I), of the present invention preferably have a haemolytic activity, of approximately between 0.5-0.0001 %, more preferably between 0.05-0.0001%, even more preferably between 0.005-0.0001%, and most preferably between 0.003-0.0004%. Ideally, said polyoxyethylene ethers or esters should have a haemolytic activity similar (i.e. within a ten-fold difference) to that of either polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether or polyoxyethylene-8 steoryl ether.

The ratio of the length of the polyoxyethylene section to the length of the alkyl chain in the surfactant (i.e. the ratio of n: alkyl chain length), affects the solubility of this class of detergent in an aqueous medium. Thus, the adjuvants of the present invention may be in solution or may form particulate structures such as micelles. The adjuvants of the present invention are because of their non- vesicular nature are clear and not cloudy or opaque, stable and are easily sterilisable by filtration through a 220 nm membrane, and are manufactured in a easy and controlled fashion.

Vaccines of the present invention may take the form of a non- vesicular solution or suspension of polyoxyethylene ether or ester of general formula (I) in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, such as PBS or water, and an antigen or antigenic preparation. Such a vaccine formulation may then be applied to a mucosal surface of a mammal in either a priming or boosting vaccination regime; or alternatively be administered systemically, for example via the transdermal, subcutaneous or intramuscular routes.

Other adjuvants which are known to enhance both mucosal and systemic immunological responses include the bacterial enterotoxins derived from Vibrio Cholerae and Eschericia Coli (namely cholera toxin (CT), and heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) respectively). CT and LT are heterodimers consisting of a pentameric ring of β- subunits, cradling a toxic A subunit. Their structure and biological activity are disclosed in Clements and Finklestein, 1979, Infection and Immunity, 24:760-769; Clements et al., 1980, Infection and Immunity, 24:91-97. Recently a non-toxic derivative of LT has been developed which lacks the proteolytic site required to enable the non-toxic form of LT to be " switched on" into its toxic form, once released from the cell. This form of LT (termed mLT(Rl 92G)) is rendered insuceptible to proteolytic cleavage by a substitution of the amino acid arginine with glycine at position 192, and has been shown to have a greatly reduced toxicity whilst retairiing its potent adjuvant activity. mLT(R192G) is, therefore, termed a proteolytic site mutant. Methods for the manufacture of mLT(R192G) are disclosed in the patent application WO 96/06627. Other mutant forms of LT include the active site mutants such as mLT(A69G) which contain a substitution of an glycine for an alanine in position 69 of the LTA sequence. The use of mLT(R192G) as a mucosal vaccine is described in patent application WO 96/06627. Such adjuvants may be advantageously combined with the non- ionic surfactants of the present invention.

Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention the polyoxyethylene ether, or ester, will further be combined with other adjuvants or immunostimulants including Cholera toxin and its B subunit, Monophosphoryl Lipid A and its non-toxic derivative 3-de-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A (as described in UK patent no. GB 2,220,211 ), saponins such as Quil A (derived from the bark of the South American tree Quillaja Saponaria Molina), and fractions thereof, including QS21 and QS17 (US 5,057,540; Kensil, C. R., Crit Rev Ther Drug Carrier Syst, 1996, 12 (l-2):l-55; EP 0 362 279 Bl; Kensil et al. (1991. J. Immunology vol 146, 431-437; WO 99/10008) and the oligonucleotide adjuvant system containing an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide (as described in WO 96/02555). A particularly preferred immunostimulant used in conjunction with POE is CpG immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, which formulations are potent in the induction and boosting of immune responses in larger animals. Preferred oligonucleotides have the following sequences: The sequences preferably contain all phosphorothioate modified internucleotide linkages. OLIGO 1 : TCC ATG ACG TTC CTG ACG TT

OLIGO 2: TCT CCC AGC GTG CGC CAT OLIGO 3: ACC GAT GAC GTC GCC GGT GAC GGC ACC ACG The CpG oligonucleotides utilised in the present invention may be synthesized by any method known in the art (eg EP 468520). Conveniently, such oligonucleotides may be synthesized utilising an automated synthesizer.

Alternatively polyoxyethylene ethers or esters may be combined with vaccine vehicles composed of chitosan or other polycationic polymers, polylactide and polylactide-co- glycolide particles, particles composed of polysaccharides or chemically modified polysaccharides, cholesterol-free liposomes and lipid-based particles, oil in water emulsions (WO 95/17210), particles composed of glycerol monoesters, etc. The polyoxyethylene ethers or esters may also be admixed with powdered excipients such as lactose containing antigen which can be administered as a dry powder.

Adjuvants of the present invention comprise the surfactants: polyoxyethylene ethers or esters wherein the polyoxyethylene ethers or esters are not present in the form of vesicles. Accordingly, the present invention includes the use of polyoxyethylene ethers and esters of general formula (I) in the manufacture of adjuvant compositions and vaccines, wherein the surfactant of general formula (I) is not present in a vesicular form. Preferably the vaccine formulations of the present invention contain an antigen or antigenic composition capable of eliciting an immune response against a human pathogen, which antigen or antigenic composition is derived from HIV-1, (such as tat, nef, gpl20 or gpl60), human herpes viruses, such as gD or derivatives thereof or Immediate Early protein such as ICP27 from HSVl or HSV2, cytomegalo virus ((esp Human)(such as gB or derivatives thereof), Rotavirus (including live-attenuated viruses), Epstein Barr virus (such as gp350 or derivatives thereof), Varicella Zoster Virus (such as gpl, II and IE63), or from a hepatitis virus such as hepatitis B virus (for example Hepatitis B Surface antigen or a derivative thereof), hepatitis A virus, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis E virus, or from other viral pathogens, such as paramyxo viruses: Respiratory Syncytial virus (such as F and G proteins or derivatives thereof), parainfluenza virus, measles virus, mumps virus, human papilloma viruses (for example HPV6, 11, 16, 18, ..), flaviviruses (e.g. Yellow Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus) or Influenza virus (whole live or inactivated virus, split influenza virus, grown in eggs or MDCK cells, or Vero cells or whole flu virosomes (as described by R. Gluck, Vaccine, 1992, 10, 915-920) or purified or recombinant proteins thereof, such as HA, NP, NA, or M proteins, or combinations thereof), or derived from bacterial pathogens such as Neisseria spp, including N. gonorrhea and N. meningitidis (for example capsular polysaccharides and conjugates thereof, transferrin-binding proteins, lactoferrin binding proteins, PilC, adhesins); S. pyogenes (for example M proteins or fragments thereof, C5A protease, lipoteichoic acids), S. agalactiae, S. mutans; H. ducreyi; Moraxella spp, including M catarrhalis, also known as Branhamella catarrhalis (for example high and low molecular weight adhesins and invasinsλ" Bordetella spp, including B. pertussis (for example pertactin, pertussis toxin or derivatives thereof, filamenteous hemagglutinin, adenylate cyclase, fimbriae), B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica; Mycobacterium spp., including M. tuberculosis (for example ESAT6, Antigen 85A, -B or -C), M. bovis, M. leprae, M. avium, M. paratuberculosis, M. smegmatis; Legionella spp, including L. pneumophila; Escherichia spp, including enterotoxic E. coli (for example colonization factors, heat-labile toxin or derivatives thereof, heat-stable toxin or derivatives thereof), enterohemorragic E. coli, enteropathogenic E. coli (for example shiga toxin-like toxin or derivatives thereof); Vibrio spp, including V. cholera (for example cholera toxin or derivatives thereof); Shigella spp, including S. sonnei, S. dysenteriae, S. flexnerii; Yersinia spp, including Y. enterocolitica (for example a Yop protein) , Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis; Campylobacter spp, including C. jejuni (for example toxins, adhesins and invasins) and C. coli; Salmonella spp, including S. typhi, S. paratyphi, S. choleraesuis, S. enteritidis; Listeria spp., including L. monocytogenes; Helicobacter spp, including H. pylori (for example urease, catalase, vacuolating toxin); Pseudomonas spp, including P. aeruginosa; Staphylococcus spp., including S. aureus, S. epidermidis; Enterococcus spp., including E. faecalis, E. faecium; Clostridium spp., including C. tetani (for example tetanus toxin and derivative thereof), C. botulinum (for example botulinum toxin and derivative thereof), C. difficile (for example clostridium toxins A or B and derivatives thereof); Bacillus spp., including B. anthracis (for example botulinum toxin and derivatives thereof); Corynebacterium spp., including C. diphtheriae (for example diphtheria toxin and derivatives thereof); Borrelia spp., including B. burgdorferi (for example OspA, OspC, DbpA, DbpB), B. garinii (for example OspA, OspC, DbpA, DbpB), B. afzelii (for example OspA, OspC, DbpA, DbpB), B. andersonii (for example OspA, OspC, DbpA, DbpB), B. hermsii; Ehrlichia spp., including E. equi and the agent of the Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis; Rickettsia spp, including R. rickettsii; Chlamydia spp., including C. trachomatis (for example MOMP, heparin-binding proteins), C. pneumoniae (for example MOMP, heparin-binding proteins,), C. psittaci; Leptospira spp., including L. interrogans; Treponema spp., including T. pallidum (for example the rare outer membrane proteins), T. denticola, T. hyodysenteriae; or derived from parasites such as Plasmodium spp., including P. falciparum; Toxoplasma spp., including T. gondii (for example SAG2, SAG3, Tg34); Entamoeba spp., including E. histolytica; Babesia spp., including B. micro ti; Trypanosoma spp., including T. cruzi; Giardia spp., including G. lamblia; Leshmania spp., including L. major; Pneumocystis spp., including P. carinii; Trichomonas spp., including T. vaginalis; Schisostoma spp., including S. mansoni, or derived from yeast such as Candida spp., including C. albicans; Cryptococcus spp., including C. neoformans.

10 Preferred bacterial vaccines comprise antigens derived from Streptococcus spp, including S. pneumoniae (for example capsular polysaccharides and conjugates thereof, PsaA, PspA, streptolysin, choline-binding proteins)and the protein antigen Pneumolysin (Biochem Biophys Acta, 1989, 67, 1007; Rubins et al., Microbial

Pathogenesis, 25, 337-342), and mutant detoxified derivatives thereof (WO 90/06951; WO 99/03884). Other preferred bacterial vaccines comprise antigens derived from Haemophilus spp., including H. influenzae type B (for example PRP and conjugates thereof), non typeable H. influenzae, for example OMP26, high molecular weight adhesins, P5, P6, protein D and lipoprotein D, and fimbrin and fimbrin derived peptides (US 5,843,464) or multiple copy varients or fusion proteins thereof. Other preferred bacterial vaccines comprise antigens derived from Morexella Catarrhalis (including outer membrane vesicles thereof, and OMP106 (WO97/41731)) and from Neisseria mengitidis B (including outer membrane vesicles thereof, and NspA (WO 96/29412).

Derivatives of Hepatitis B Surface antigen are well known in the art and include, inter alia, those PreSl, PreS2 S antigens set forth described in European Patent applications EP-A-414 374; EP-A-0304 578, and EP 198-474. In one preferred aspect the vaccine formulation of the invention comprises the HIV-1 antigen, gpl20, especially when expressed in CHO cells. In a further embodiment, the vaccine formulation of the invention comprises gD2t as hereinabove defined.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention vaccines containing the claimed adjuvant comprise antigen derived from the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) considered to be responsible for genital warts, (ΗPV 6 or HPV 11 and others), and the HPV viruses responsible for cervical cancer (HPV 16, HPV 18 and others).

Particularly preferred forms of genital wart prophylactic, or therapeutic, vaccine comprise LI particles or capsomers, and fusion proteins comprising one or more antigens selected from the HPV 6 and HPV 1 1 proteins E6, E7, LI, and L2.

1 1 The most preferred forms of fusion protein are: L2E7 as disclosed in WO 96/26277, and proteinD(l/3)-E7 disclosed in GB 9717953.5 (PCT/EP98/05285).

A preferred HPV cervical infection or cancer, prophylaxis or therapeutic vaccine, composition may comprise HPV 16 or 18 antigens. For example, LI or L2 antigen monomers, or LI or L2 antigens presented together as a virus like particle (VLP) or the LI alone protein presented alone in a VLP or capsomer structure. Such antigens, virus like particles and capsomer are per se known. See for example WO94/00152, WO94/20137, WO94/05792, and WO93/02184.

Additional early proteins may be included alone or as fusion proteins such as preferably E7, E2 or E5 for example; particularly preferred embodiments of this includes a VLP comprising L1E7 fusion proteins (WO 96/11272).

Particularly preferred HPV 16 antigens comprise the early proteins E6 or E7 in fusion with a protein D carrier to form Protein D - E6 or E7 fusions from HPV 16, or combinations thereof; or combinations of E6 or E7 with L2 (WO 96/26277).

Alternatively the HPV 16 or 18 early proteins E6 and E7, may be presented in a single molecule, preferably a Protein D- E6/E7 fusion. Such vaccine may optionally contain either or both E6 and E7 proteins from HPV 18, preferably in the form of a Protein D - E6 or Protein D - E7 fusion protein or Protein D E6 E7 fusion protein.

The vaccine of the present invention may additionally comprise antigens from other HPV strains, preferably from strains HPV 6, 11, 31, 33, or 45.

Vaccines of the present invention further comprise antigens derived from parasites that cause Malaria. For example, preferred antigens from Plasmodia falciparum include RTS,S and TRAP. RTS is a hybrid protein comprising substantially all the C- terminal portion of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of P. falciparum linked via four

12 amino acids of the preS2 portion of Hepatitis B surface antigen to the surface (S) antigen of hepatitis B virus. It's full structure is disclosed in the International Patent Application No. PCT/EP92/02591, published under Number WO 93/10152 claiming priority from UK patent application No.9124390.7. When expressed in yeast RTS is produced as a lipoprotein particle, and when it is co-expressed with the S antigen from HBV it produces a mixed particle known as RTS,S. TRAP antigens are described in the International Patent Application No. PCT/GB89/00895, published under WO 90/01496. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a Malaria vaccine wherein the antigenic preparation comprises a combination of the RTS,S and TRAP antigens. Other plasmodia antigens that are likely candidates to be components of a multistage Malaria vaccine are P.faciparum MSP1, AMA1, MSP3, EBA, GLURP, RAP1, RAP2, Sequestrin, PfEMPl, PD32, LSA1, LSA3, STARP, SALSA, PfEXPl, Pfs25, Pfs28, PFS27/25, Pfsl6, Pfs48/45, Pfs230 and their analogues in Plasmodium spp.

The formulations may also contain an anti-tumour antigen and be useful for the immunotherapeutic treatment cancers. For example, the adjuvant formulation finds utility with tumour rejection antigens such as those for prostrate, breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, renal or melanoma cancers. Exemplary antigens include MAGE 1 and MAGE 3 or other MAGE antigens for the treatment of melanoma, PRAME,

BAGE or GAGE (Robbins and Kawakami, 1996, Current Opinions in Immunology 8, pps 628-636; Van den Eynde et al., International Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Research (submitted 1997); Correale et al. (1997), Journal of the National Cancer Institute 89, p293. Indeed these antigens are expressed in a wide range of tumour types such as melanoma, lung carcinoma, sarcoma and bladder carcinoma. Other Tumor-Specific antigens are suitable for use with adjuvant of the present invention and include, but are not restricted to Prostate specific antigen (PSA) or Her-2/neu, KSA (GA733), MUC-1 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Accordingly in one aspect of the present invention there is provided a vaccine comprising an adjuvant composition according to the invention and a tumour rejection antigen.

13 Additionally said antigen may be a self peptide hormone such as whole length Gonadotrophin hormone releasing hormone (GnRH, WO 95/20600), a short 10 amino acid long peptide, in the treatment of many cancers, or in immunocastration.

It is foreseen that compositions of the present invention will be used to formulate vaccines containing antigens derived from Borrelia sp.. For example, antigens may include nucleic acid, pathogen derived antigen or antigenic preparations, recombinantly produced protein or peptides, and chimeric fusion proteins. In particular the antigen is OspA. The OspA may be a full mature protein in a lipidated form virtue of the host cell (E.Coli) termed (Lipo-OspA) or a non-lipidated derivative. Such non-lipidated derivatives include the non-lipidated NSl-OspA fusion protein which has the first 81 N-terminal amino acids of the non-structural protein (NS1) of the influenza virus, and the complete OspA protein, and another, MDP-OspA is a non- lipidated form of OspA carrying 3 additional N-terminal amino acids.

Vaccines of the present invention may be used for the prophylaxis or therapy of allergy. Such vaccines would comprise allergen specific (for example Der pi) and allergen non-specific antigens (for example peptides derived from human IgE, including but not restricted to the stanworth decapeptide (EP 0 477 231 Bl)).

The amount of protein in each vaccine dose is selected as an amount which induces an immunoprotective response without significant, adverse side effects in typical vaccinees. Such amount will vary depending upon which specific immunogen is employed and how it is presented. Generally, it is expected that each dose will comprise 1 - 1000 μg of protein, preferably 1 -500 μg, preferably 1 - 1 OOμg, most preferably 1 to 50μg. An optimal amount for a particular vaccine can be ascertained by standard studies involving observation of appropriate immune responses in subjects. Following an initial vaccination, subjects may receive one or several booster immunisation adequately spaced.

14 It is foreseen that compositions of the present invention will be used to formulate vaccines containing antigens derived from a wide variety of sources. For example, antigens may include human, bacterial, or viral nucleic acid, pathogen derived antigen or antigenic preparations, tumour derived antigen or antigenic preparations, host- derived antigens, including GnRH and IgE peptides, recombinantly produced protein or peptides, and chimeric fusion proteins.

The vaccines of the present invention may also be administered via the oral route. In such cases the pharmaceutically acceptible excipient may also include alkaline buffers, or enteric capsules or microgranules. The vaccines of the present invention may also be administered by the vaginal route. In such cases, the pharmaceutically acceptable excipients may also include emulsifiers, polymers such as CARBOPOL^®, and other known stablilisers of vaginal creams and suppositories. The vaccines of the present invention may also be administered by the rectal route. In such cases the excipients may also include waxes and polymers known in the art for forming rectal suppositories.

The formulations of the present invention maybe used for both prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Accordingly, the present invention provides for a method of treating a mammal susceptible to or suffering from an infectious disease or cancer, or allergy, or autoimmune disease. In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a vaccine as herein described for use in medicine. Vaccine preparation is generally described in New Trends and Developments in Vaccines, edited by Voller et al., University Park Press, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. 1978.

The present invention relates to the use of polyoxyethylene ethers or esters of general formula (I) in the manufacture of an adjuvant formulation, comprising a surfactant of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present invention relates to the use of polyoxyethylene ethers or esters of general formula (I) in the manufacture of vaccine formulation, comprising a surfactant of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and an antigen. The present invention also

15 relates to the use of polyoxyethylene ethers or esters of general formula (I) in the manufacture of an adjuvant formulation or vaccine, as described above, wherein the formulation does not contain cholesterol. The present invention further provides the use of polyoxyethylene ethers or esters of general formula (I) in the manufacture of an adjuvant formulation or vaccine, as described above, wherein the formulation is a non-vesicular solution or suspension.

Examples of suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include water, phosphate buffered saline, isotonic buffer solutions.

Alternative terms or names for polyoxyethylene lauryl ether are disclosed in the CAS registry. The CAS registry number of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether is: CAS REGISTRY NUMBER: 9002-92-0

The present invention is illustrated by, but not restricted to, the following examples.

Example 1, Techniques used to measure antigen specific antibody (Ab) responses .

ELISA for the measurement of QspA-specific serum IgG: Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated overnight at 4°C with 50 μl/well of 1 μg/ml of antigen OspA diluted in PBS (in rows B to H of plate), or with 50 μl of 5 μg/ml purified goat anti-mouse Ig (Boerhinger), in PBS (row A). Free sites on the plates were blocked (1 hour, 37°C) using saturation buffer : PBS comtaining 1%BSA, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20), and 4% Normal Bovine Serum (NBS). Then, serial 2-fold dilutions (in saturation buffer, 50 μl/well) of IgG isotype mixture, diluted in saturation buffer (50 μl per well), was added as a standard curve (mixture of mouse monoclonal antibodies IgGl, IgG2a and IgG2b from Sigma, starting at 200 ng/ml and put in row A) and serum samples (starting at a 1/100 dilution and put in rows B to H) are incubated for lhr 30mins at 37°C. The plates are then washed (^χ3) with washing buffer (PBS, 0.1 % polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20)). Then, biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG (Amersham)

16 diluted 1/5000 in saturation buffer are incubated (50 μl/well) for lhr 30mins, at 37°C. After 3 washings, and subsequent addition of streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (Amersham), plates are washed 5 times and incubated for 20 min at room temperature with 50 μl/well of revelation buffer (OPDA 0.4 mg/ml (Sigma) and H₂O₂ 0.03% in 50mM pH 4.5 citrate buffer). Revelation is stopped by adding 50 μl/well H₂SO₄2N. Optical densities are read at 492 and 630 nm by using Biorad 3550 immunoreader. Antibody titre are calculated by the 4 parameter mathematical method using SoftMaxPro software.

Anti-TT, anti-FHA and anti-influenza IgG titres were measured using a similar technique, by replacing the OspA coating antigen with either TT, FHA, or whole influenza antigen. TT was supplied by a commercially available source (Behring). FHA was produced and purified by methods described in EP 0 427 462 B. Whole influenza virus, inactivated with β-propriolactone (BPL), was supplied by SSD GmBH (Dresden Germany).

ELISA for the measurement of S. Pneumoniae polysaccharide (PS 14 and PS 19)- specific serum IgG in mice:

Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated for 2 hours at 37°C with 100 μl/well of 5 μg/ml (PS14) or 20 μg/ml (PS19) antigen diluted in PBS. The plates are then washed (x3) with washing buffer (PBS, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20)). Then, serial 2-fold dilutions (in PBS TWEEN 20,100 μl per well) of PS14 or PS19-specific monoclonal Ab (mAb) IgGl added as a standard curve (starting at 785 ng/ml for PS 14 or 2040 ng/ml for PS 19, and put in row A) and serum samples (starting at a 1/20 dilution and put in rows B to H) are incubated for 30mins at 20°C under agitation. Before to be added and diluted on the plate, both mAb standards and serum samples are pre-incubated with Common Polysaccharides (CPS) for 1 hour at 37°C, in order to eliminate aspecific reactions. The plates are then washed (^χ3) with washing buffer (PBS TWEEN 20). Then, peroxydase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (Jackson) diluted 1/5000 in PBS TWEEN 20 are incubated (100 μl/well) for 30 min at 20°C under agitation. After 3 washings, plates are incubated for

17 15 min at room temperature with 100 μl well of revelation buffer (OPDA 0.4 mg/ml (Sigma) and H₂O₂ 0.03% in 50mM pH 4.5 citrate buffer). Revelation is stopped by adding 50 μl well HC1 IN. Optical densities are read at 492 and 630 nm by using Biorad 3550 immunoreader. Antibody titre are calculated by the 4 parameter mathematical method using SoftMaxPro software.

ELISA for the measurement of OspA-specific serum Ig Abs in monkeys:

Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated overnight at 4°C with 50 μl/well of 1 μg/ml

OspAdiluted in PBS. Free sites on the plates are blocked (1 hour, 37°C) using saturation buffer : PBS containing 1%BSA, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20). Then, serial 2-fold dilutions (in saturation buffer, 50 μl per well) of a reference serum added as a standard curve (serum having a mid-point titer of 60000 ELISA Unit/ml, starting at 12 EU/ml and put in row A ) and serum samples (starting at a 1/100 dilution and put in rows B to H) are incubated for lhr 30mins at 37°C. The plates are then washed (x3) with washing buffer (PBS, 0.1 % polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20)). Then, biotinylated goat anti- human Ig (Amersham) diluted 1/3000 in saturation buffer are incubated (50 μl/well) for lhr 30mins, at 37°C. After 3 washings, and subsequent addition of streptavidin- horseradish peroxidase conjugate (Amersham), plates are washed 5 times and incubated for 20 min at room temperature with 50 μl/well of revelation buffer (OPDA 0.4 mg/ml (Sigma) and H₂O₂ 0.03% in 50mM pH 4.5 citrate buffer). Revelation is stopped by adding 50 μl well H₂SO₄2N. Optical densities are read at 492 and 630 nm by using Biorad 3550 immunoreader. Antibody titre are calculated by the 4 parameter mathematical method using SoftMaxPro software.

Anti-influenza immunoglobulin titres were measured using a similar technique, by replacing the OspA coating antigen with whole influenza virus antigen, inactivated with β-propiolactone (BPL), supplied by SSD GmBH manufacturer (Dresden, Germany).

18 ELISA for the measurement of OspA-specific nasal IgA Abs in monkeys:

Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated overnight at 4°C with 50 μl/well of 1 μg/ml antigen OspA diluted in PBS (in rows B to H of plate), or with 50 μl of 5 μg/ml purified goat anti-human IgA (Sigma), in PBS (row A). Free sites on the plates are blocked (1 hour, 37°C) using saturation buffer : PBS comtaining 1%BSA, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20), and 4% Normal Bovine Serum (NBS). Then, serial 2-fold dilutions (in saturation buffer, 50 μl per well) of a reference secretion added as a standard curve (secretion having a mid-point titer of 3000 ELISA Unit/ml, starting at 30 EU/ml and put in row A ) and nasal swabs

(starting at a 1/5 dilution and put in rows B to H) are incubated for 2hr at 22°C. The plates are then washed (x3) with washing buffer (PBS, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20)). Then, biotinylated goat anti-human IgA (ICN) at 0.2 μg/ml in saturation buffer are incubated (50 μl well) for lhr 30mins, at 37°C. After 3 washings, and subsequent addition of streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (Amersham), plates are washed 5 times and incubated for 10 min at room temperature with 50 μl/well of revelation buffer (TMB, Biorad). Revelation is stopped by adding 50 μl/well H₂SO₄0.4N. Optical densities are read at 450 and 630 nm by using Biorad 3550 immunoreader. Antibody titre are calculated by the 4 parameter mathematical method using SoftMaxPro software. Samples are considered to be positive when their IgA titre exceed the cut-off of the assay (0.3 EU/ml).

Inhibition assay for the measurement of serum LA2-like Antibody titres to lipo-OspA Antibody titres in the vaccinees were studied with respect to their LA2-like specificity. LA2 is a murine monoclonal antibody which recognizes a conformational OspA epitope at the surface of the bacteria and has been shown to be able to kill B. burgdorferi in vitro, as well as to protect mice against a challenge with laboratory- grown spirochete (Schaible UE et al. 1990. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:3768-3772). Moreover, LA-2 mab has been shown to correlate with bactericidal antibodies, and studies on human sera showed also a good correlation between the total anti-OspA IgG titers and the LA-2 titers (as measured by ELISA).

19 Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated overnight at 4°C with 50 μl/well of

0.5 μg/ml lipo OspA diluted in PBS. Free sites were blocked with saturation buffer for lhr at 37°C with (100 μl/well of saturation buffer: PBS/ BSA 1%/ Tween 20 0.1%/ NBS 4%). Serial 2-fold dilutions of LA2 monoclonal Ab (mAb) starting at 4 μg/ml were diluted in saturation buffer (50 μl per well) to form a standard curve. Dilutions of serum samples from the vaccinees (starting at a 1/10 dilution) were also added and the plates incubated for 2hrs at 37°C. The plates were washed after incubation 3 times with PBS/ TWEEN 20 (0.1%). LA2 mAb-peroxidase conjugate (1/10,000) diluted in saturation buffer was added to each well (50 μl/well) and incubated for lhr at 37°C. After 5 washings, plates are incubated for 20 min at room temperature (in darkness) with 50 μl well of revelation buffer (OPDA 0.4 mg/ml and H₂O₂ 0.03% in 50mM pH 4.5 citrate buffer). The reaction and colour formation was stopped with H₂SO₄2N. Optical densities are read at 492 and 630 nm by using Biorad 3550 immunoreader. L A2-like Ab titers are calculated by the 4 parameter mathematical method using

SoftMaxPro software. LA2-like antibody titres were determined by comparison with the standard curve.

Example 2 Intranasal boosting of mice with OspA antigen

Female Balb/c mice (8 animals per group) aged 8 weeks were immunised intramuscularly with 1 μg of the antigen lipo-OspA on 50 μg alum. After 3 months the mice were boosted intranasally (under anesthesia) with 10 μl of solution (5 μl per nostril, delivered as droplets by pipette) containing either A: 5 μg lipo-OspA; B: 5 μg lipo-OspA in 36 % tween-20, 10% Imwitor 742 ; C: 5 μg lipo-OspA in 36 % tween- 20; D: 5 μg lipo-OspA in 18% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether. 14 days after the boost the sera were assayed for Abs against lipo-OspA by IgG and LA2 anti-OspA ELISA (see example 1). The results, see figure 1, indicate that lipo- OspA administered intranasally is able to boost the systemic lipo-OspA specific IgG titres. This boost is only marginally increased by the presence of tween-20 plus Imwitor 742 or tween-20 alone. Polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether, on the other hand,

20 induces a very significant boost. A similar pattern is observed for the LA2 response (see figure 2).

Example 3 Intranasal boosting of mice with OspA antigen

Groups of mice were primed as described in example 2. The mice were then boosted (using the method described in example 2) with 5 μg lipo-OspA alone (group A and C) or in the presence of B: 1 % sodium taurocholic acid; D: 1% dodecyl-maltoside; E: 36% tween 20 or F: 18% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether. Since the experiment with groups A and B was performed at a different moment to that with groups C,D,E and F they are separated on the figures below (see figure 3). It is clear that 1% sodium taurocholate does not significantly adjuvant the boost above that obtained with the antigen alone. Dodecyl-maltoside at 1%, or tween-20 at 36% provide a slight adjuvant effect, but only polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether provides a very significant enhancement of the IgG response. A similar effect is observed for the LA2 response (see figure 4).

Example 4 Intranasal boosting of mice - Dose range study

In order to assess the concentration of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether required to provide the nasal adjuvanticity observed in the previous examples, we performed a dose-range assay, and in order to show that this effect can be achieved using other polyoxyethylene ethers we investigated the use of polyoxyethylene-23 lauryl ether. Mice primed as in example 1 were boosted intranasally with 10 μl containing 5 μg of lipo-OspA in either A: PBS; B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; C: 2% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; D: 5% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; E: 1% polyoxyethylene-23 lauryl ether or; F: 10 % polyoxyethylene-23 lauryl ether. 14 days after the boost the sera were analysed as in example 2.

Figures 5 and 6, below, show that concentrations of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether as low as 1% show a very significant enhancement of the immune response.

21 Polyoxyethylene-23 -lauryl ether also significantly enhances the intranasal boost response.

Example 5 Combination vaccine - intranasal boosting

In order to asses the applicability of polyoxyethylene ethers to the enhancement of systemic immune responses after intranasal boosting, female balb/c mice were primed intra-muscularly with the commercial DTPa vaccine (Diptheria, Tetanus, accelular Pertussis vaccine: INFANRIX™ SmithKline Beecham, Belgium). The mice were primed once intramuscularly with 2 X 50 μl injections corresponding to 20% of the human dose. Three months later the mice were boosted (as in example 2) intranasally with either tetanus toxoid (TT: 5 μg) or filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA: 5 μg) in A: PBS; B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; or; C: by intramuscular injection of the DTPa vaccine (2x50μl). 14 days after the boosting the sera were analysed for their TT and FHA specific IgG. The titres are shown in figures 7 and 8.

It is clear that for TT the protein by itself does not induce a significant boost, but ρolyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether is able to significantly boost the immune response. Surprisingly, the response obtained by intranasal boosting in the presence of this adjuvants is greater than that obtained following intramuscular boosting of the immune response.The administration of FHA by itself, induces an immune response which is further significantly enhanced by addition of the polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether as an adjuvant.

Example 6 Intranasal boosting ofAGMs

Many adjuvants have been shown to work in small rodents, but to have no effect when tested in larger mammals. In order to asses whether polyoxyethylene ethers were able to exert an adjuvant effect on intranasal boosting when this was performed in larger species, African Green monkeys (AGMs: 4 animals per group) were primed intramuscularly with lipo-OspA (10 μg) on alum (500 μg) by intramuscular injection. 10 months later the animals were boosted intranasally with 200 μl (100 μl per nostril

22 administered under anesthesia with a bidose spray device from Pfeiffer GmBH, Germany) containing 60 μg lipo-OspA in either A: PBS; or B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether. After 14 days the sera were tested for anti-OspA immunoglobulin, and LA2 ti^tres.Figures 9 and 10, show the geometric mean titres titres for each of _the groups. Group C consisting of 10 AGMs that had received both the priming and the boost by intramuscular injection of lipo-OspA on alum were assayed for anti-OspA immunoglobulin responses (geometric mean titres shown for LA2 titres only, figure 10).

Lipo-OspA alone was able to boost the systemic response when administered intranasally to monkeys, but this boost is very significantly enhanced by the addition of 1% polyoxyethylene 9 lauryl ether. Surprisingly, the titres obtained following intranasal boosting in the presence of polyoxyethylene 9 lauryl ether are also greater than those obtained following an intramuscular injection (group C).

Example 7 Intranasal priming and boosting of AGMs

In the previous examples we demonstrated that polyoxyethylene ethers could adjuvant an intranasal boosting of the systemic response. In this example we examine whe_ther naive animals can be primed and boosted by the nasal route to induce a systemic immune response. In addition, in order to investigate the applicability of these adjuvants to larger animals, this experiment was performed in African Green Monkeys (AGMs).

African Green Monkeys (3 animals per group) were primed and boosted intranasally with 60 μg of lipo-OspA delivered in 200 μl (100 μl per nostril delivered with a bidose spray-device from Pfeiffer GmBH, Germany) of A: PBS; B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether. 14 days after the boosting the sera were assayed for their Osp-A specific immunoglobulin. Figure 1 1, shows that when Lipo-OspA is not adjuvanted, no systemic immune response can be detected following intranasal

23 priming and boosting. When polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether is used as an adjuvant, this vaccination schedule induced significant anti-OspA titres.

Example 8, Intranasal adjuvant effect of CpG on the induction of systemic and nasal humoral immune responses to lipo OspA antigen in primates

This model was designed to investigate the priming and boosting effect of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether (POE-9LE), with and without additional immunostimulants, in a primate priming and boosting model. Serum and nasal immunoglobulin responses were measured. The immunostimulant used in this study was the CpG 1001 as described in example 9.

Experimental procedure

African Green monkeys were primed and boosted intranasally at days 0 (pi) and 14 (pll). Vaccines were given using a bi-dose spray delivery system from the Pfeiffer company (100 μl in each nostril, under anesthesia). Formulations tested were:

Group Antigen Adjuvant n= Route

1 LipoOspA (60μg) None 2 i.n.

2 lipoOspA (60μg) CpG (lOOμg) 3 i.n.

3 lipoOspA (60μg) CpG (lOOμg), POE-9 LE (0.25%) 3 i.n.

4 lipoOspA (60μg) POE (0.25%) 4 i.n.

5 lipoOspA (60μg) POE (0.5%) 4 i.n.

Ig Ab titers to lipo OspA were measured in sera collected at day 14 post-pll. Antigen- specific nasal IgA were measured using a very sensitive ELISA in nasal swabs collected at the same time, animals were considered positive when their IgA titres exceeded a pre-determined level which was significantly above background levels.

Results Serum OspA-specific immunoglobulin

24 Figure 12 shows the levels of serum anti-lipo-OspA immunoglobulin responses observed at day 14 post-pll. Lipo-OspA given as a priming and boosting formulation alone did not induce any detectable serum immunoglobulin. This response was not improved in the presence of CpG. A dose of 0.25 % and 0.5 % of POE-9 LE elicited greater immune responses that those observed after vaccination with CpG alone, although the 0.5% dose is much more efficient in this respect. However, when combined with CpG, the 0.25 % dose induces an Ab response similar in magnitude to that obtained with 0.5 % dose, indicating a synergistic effect of the CpG and POE components.

Nasal OspA-specific IgA

As observed for the serum Ig response, vaccines containing lipo OspA alone or combined with CpG are unable to elicit detectable nasal IgA Abs (see figure 13 for a summary of all nasal responses). Only 25% animals given lipo OspA in combination with 0.25%⁾ polyoxyethylene lauryl ether were found to be "nasal IgA" positive (versus 50% in the 0.5% POE-9 LE). When CpG is added to this 0.25% POE formulation, 100% animals develop an IgA response. Therefore, a synergy between CpG and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether is also obtained for the induction of mucosal antibodies.

Thus, a synergy between polyoxyethylene lauryl ether and CpG is obtained in monkeys for the induction of antigen specific serum immunoglobulins and nasal IgA.

Example 9, Intranasal adjuvant effect of CpG on the boosting of systemic humoral immune responses to lipo OspA antigen

The following example was designed to investigate the effect of the addition of other immunostimulants into the polyoxyethylene ether (POE-9 LE) adjuvant system in a murie booster model. CpG is a known immunomodulatory oligonucleotide described in PCT WO 96/02555. The immune response boosted by these vaccine formulations

25 were at least as high as those induced by conventional i.m. boosting vaccinations. The formulations were further compared to a well known intranasal adjuvant, the heat- labile enterotoxin from E.Coli (mLT).

The CpG sequences used in this experiment were CpG 1001 (TCC ATG AGC TTC CTG ACG TT), CpG 1002 (TCT CCC AGC GTG CGC CAT), and the negative control the non-immunostimulatory sequence CpG 1005 (TCC ATG AGC TTC CTG AGC TT).

Experimental procedure

Balb/c mice were primed at day 0 by intramuscular administration of 100 μl vaccine containing 1 μg lipo OspA adsorbed on 50 μg aluminium hydroxyde. At day 107, intranasal booster was given in 10 μl (5 μl in each nostril), by nasal drop administration with a micropipette under anesthesia. Groups of 6 mice were boosted either intranasally (i.n.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) with the following vaccine formulations:

Group Antigen Adjuvant Route

1 LipoOspA (5μg) AlOH₃ (50μg) i.m.

2 LipoOspA (5μg) CpG1005 (20μg), POE-9 LE (1%) i.n.

3 LipoOspA (5μg) CpG1002 (20μg), POE-9 LE (1%) i.n.

4 LipoOspA (5μg) CpGlOOl (20μg), POE-9 LE (1%) i.n.

5 LipoOspA (5μg) CpG1005 (20μg) i.n.

6 LipoOspA (5μg) CpG 1002 (20μg) i.n.

7 LipoOspA (5μg) CpGlOOl (20μg) i.n.

8 LipoOspA (5μg) POE-9 LE (l%) i.n.

9 LipoOspA (5μg) mLT (5μg) i.n.

10 LipoOspA (5μg) None i.n.

11 Unboosted

26 Bleedings were performed the day of boosting, and 14 days after the boost (pll). Specific serum IgG titers to OspA and LA2 titers were determined by ELISA on individual sera.

Results

As shown in figure 14 (showing OspA specific serum IgG as measured by antigen specific ELISA), and figure 15 (showing bacteriocidal LA2 titres in serum), no improvement of the serum OspA-specific Ab responses was imparted by CpG alone. The formulation of OspA with polyoxyethylene lauryl ether enhanced the resultant IgG and LA2 titers. The best responses were observed when lipo-OspA was formulated with both polyoxyethylene lauryl ether and CpG.

Example 10 Dose study

As described in the example 4, concentrations of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether as low as 1% show a very significant enhancement of the immune response. In order to assess the concentration of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether required to provide the nasal adjuvanticity observed in the previous examples, a dose-range assay with lower doses was performed.

Balb/c mice primed as in example 2 were boosted intranasally with 10 μl containing 5 μg of lipo-OspA in either A: PBS; B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; C: 0.5% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; D: 0.25% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; or; E: by intramuscular injection of lμg lipo-OspA adsorbed on 50 μg Alum. 14 days after the boost the sera were analyzed as in example 1.

Results

Figures 16 and 17, below, show that concentrations of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether as low as 0.25% show a very significant enhancement of the immune response. Even

27 with such a low dose of adjuvant, the Ab response reached is similar to that elicited by the parenteral vaccine.

Example 11, Anti-influenza vaccination in mice

In order to assess the applicability of polyoxyethylene ethers to the enhancement of systemic anti-influenza immune responses after intranasal boosting, female Balb/c mice were primed intra-muscularly with classical monovalent split influenza vaccine. The mice were primed twice intramuscularly at days 0 and 14 with 100 μl injections containing 1.5 μg equivalent hemagglutinin A (HA) of A/Singapore/6/86 split monobulk. Three months later the mice were boosted (as in example 2) intranasally with 1.5 μg equivalent HA of inactivated whole A/Singapore/6/86 virus in A: PBS; B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; or; C: by intramuscular injection of the split A/Singapore/6/86 vaccine (1.5 μg equivalent HA). 14 days after the boosting the sera were analyzed for their A/Singapore/6/86 virus-specific IgG.

Results

The titres are shown in figure 18. It is clear that the plain antigen by itself does not induce a significant boost, but polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether is able to significantly boost the immune response. The Ab titres reached in the presence of this adjuvant are not significantly lower than those elicited by the parenteral vaccine.

Example 12 Anti-influenza vaccination in monkeys

In the example 11, we demonstrated that polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether enhanced the immunogenicity of influenza antigen in mice. In order to assess whether this surfactant was able to exert a similar adjuvant effect in larger species, African Green monkeys (AGMs: 2 animals per group and per blood collection day) were primed and boosted intranasally (as in example 6) with 50 μg equivalent HA of inactivated whole A/Beijing/262/95 virus in 200 μl of A: PBS; B: 0.5% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether.

28 At days 2, 7 and 14 after the boosting the sera were assayed for their A/Beijing/262/95 virus-specific Ig Abs. Figure 19 shows clearly that when polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether is used as an adjuvant, the immune response to influenza antigen is improved.

Example 13 Vaccination studies with polysaccharide antigens

The preceding examples demonstrate the ability of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether to adjuvant the immune responses elicited to protein-type antigens. In this example, we examine whether this adjuvant is able to enhance the boosting effect of nasally- delivered polysaccharide antigens in mice primed parenterally. The mice were primed once subcutaneously with 100 μl injections containing S. pneumoniae PS 14 and PS 19 polysaccharides (1 μg each one) conjugated to the protein D carrier. Two months later, the mice were boosted intranasally (under anesthesia) with 40 μl of solution (10 μl per nostril at time 0 followed 30 minutes later by 10 μl per nostril again, delivered as droplets by pipette) containing 1 μg PS 14 and 1 μg PS 19 conjugates in either A: NaCl 150 mM pH 6.1; B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether. 14 days after the boost the sera were assayed for their PS 14 and PS19-specific IgG Abs.

Results

As shown in figures 20 and 21 , the administration of PS 14 or PS 19 by itself induces a boosting response which is further enhanced by addition of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether as an adjuvant.

Example 14 Polyoxyethylene-8 stearyl ether

In order to show that the adjuvant effect of polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether can be achieved using other polyoxyethylene ethers we investigated the use of polyoxyethylene-8 stearyl ether.

Balb/c mice primed as in example 2 were boosted intranasally with 10 μl containing 5 μg of lipo-OspA in either A: PBS; B: 1% polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether; C: 1%

29 polyoxyethylene-8 stearyl ether; or; D: by intramuscular injection of 1 μg lipo-OspA adsorbed on 50 μg Alum. 14 days after the boost the sera were analyzed as in example 1.

Results

Figures 22 and 23 show that polyoxyethylene-8 stearyl ether is as potent as polyoxyethylene-9 lauryl ether for enhancing the boosting response to the antigen. Ab titres reached with both polyoxyethylene ethers are similar to those elicited by the parenteral vaccine.

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Claims

Claims:

1. A vaccine composition comprising polyoxyethylene ether or a polyoxyethylene ester, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and an antigen or antigemc composition, wherein the polyoxyethylene ether or ester is not in the form of a vesicle.

2. A vaccine composition comprising a surfactant of formula (I): HO(CH₂CH₂O)_n-A-R wherein, n is 1-50, A is a bond or -C(O)-, R is C,.₅₀ alkyl or Phenyl C_1-50 alkyl; a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and an antigen or antigenic composition, wherein the surfactant is not in the form of a vesicle.

3. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 2, comprising a surfactant of formula (I), wherein n is 4-24.

4. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 2, comprising a surfactant of formula (I), wherein n is 9.

5. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a surfactant of formula (I), wherein R is C₈.₂₀ alkyl or Phenyl C_g.₂₀ alkyl.

6. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a surfactant of formula (I), wherein R is C₁₂ alkyl or Phenyl C₁₂ alkyl.

7. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, comprising a surfactant of formula (I), wherein A is a bond, thereby forming an ether.

8. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, comprising a surfactant of formula (I), wherein A is -C(O)-, thereby forming an ester.

9. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising a polyoxyethylene ether or ester, selected from polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ester, polyoxyethylene-9-steoryl ether, polyoxyethylene-8-steoryl ether polyoxyethylene-4-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-35 -lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-23- lauryl ether.

10. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 2, comprising a surfactant selected from polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ester, polyoxyethylene-9-steoryl ether, polyoxyethylene-8-steoryl ether, polyoxyethylene-4- lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-35-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl ether.

31

11. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the concentration of the surfactant is in the range 0.1-10%.

12. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the concentration of the surfactant is in the range 0.25-1%.

13. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the antigen or antigen composition is derived from the group comprising: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Varicella Zoster virus, Herpes Simplex Virus type 1, He╧åes Simplex virus type 2, Human cytomegalovirus, Dengue virus, Hepatitis A, B, C or E, Respiratory Syncytial virus, human papilloma virus, Influenza virus, Hib, Meningitis virus, Salmonella, Neisseria, Borrelia, Chlamydia, Bordetella, Streptococcus, Mycoplasma, Mycobacteria, Haemophilus, Plasmodium or Toxoplasma, stanworth decapeptide; or Tumor associated antigens (TMA), MAGE, BAGE, GAGE, MUC-1, Her-2 neu, LnRH, CEA, PSA, KSA, or PRAME.

14. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 13, further comprising other adjuvants.

15. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 13, further comprising other adjuvants selected from the group comprising: LT, CT, MPL, CpG, QS21.

16. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 15, wherein the CpG adjuvant is: TCC ATG ACG TTC CTG ACG TT.

17. A vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 16, further comprising a vehicle, said vehicle comprising of any one of the following group: chitosan or other polycationic polymers, polylactide and polylactide-co-glycolide particles, particles composed of polysaccharides or chemically modified polysaccharides, or particles composed of glycerol monoesters.

18. Use of a polyoxyethylene ether or ester, in the manufacture of an adjuvant composition, wherein the polyoxyethylene ether or ester is present in the adjuvant composition in a non- vesicular form.

19. Use of a surfactant of general formula (I), in the manufacture of an adjuvant composition, wherein the surfactant of general formula (I) is present in the adjuvant composition in a non-vesicular form.

32

20. Use of vaccine composition as defined in any of claims 1 to 17, for the manufacture of a vaccine for the treatment of viral, bacterial, parasitic infections, allergy, or cancer.

21. A method of treating a mammal suffering from or susceptible to a pathogenic infection, or cancer, or allergy, comprising the administration of a safe and effective amount of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 17.

22. A method of treating a mammal suffering from or susceptible to a pathogenic infection, or cancer, or allergy, comprising the mucosal administration of a safe and effective amount of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 17.

23. A method of treating a mammal suffering from or susceptible to a pathogenic infection, or cancer, or allergy, comprising the intranasal administration of a safe and effective amount of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 17.

24. A process for making a vaccine composition according to claim 1, comprising admixing a polyoxyethylene ether or ester, a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and an antigen or antigenic composition.

25. A process for making a vaccine composition as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 17, comprising admixing a surfactant of general formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and an antigen or antigenic composition.

26. An adjuvant composition comprising polyoyethylene ether or ester, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, characterised in that said adjuvant composition is not in the form of a vesicle.

27. A vaccine or adjuvant as claimed herein for use as a medicament.

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