Influenza hemagglutinin protein-based vaccines

US9441019B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Gary J. Nabel · Cambridge, US
• Masaro Kanekiyo · Silver Spring, US
• Chih-Jen Wei · Potomac, US
• Patrick MCTAMNEY, II · Bethesda, US
• Hadi M. Yassine · Doha, QA
• Jeffrey Boyington · Clarksburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 24, 2012
• Grant date: Sep 13, 2016
• Expiry date: Sep 24, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2760/16234
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Novel vaccines are provided that elicit broadly neutralizing anti-influenza antibodies. Some vaccines comprise nanoparticles that display hemagglutinin trimers from influenza virus on their surface. The nanoparticles comprise fusion proteins comprising a monomeric subunit of ferritin joined to at least a portion of an influenza hemagglutinin protein. Some portions comprise the ectodomain while some portions are limited to the stem region. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form the hemagglutinin-displaying nanoparticles. Some vaccines comprise only the stem region of an influenza hemagglutinin protein joined to a trimerization domain. Such vaccines can be used to vaccinate an individual against infection by heterologous influenza viruses and influenza virus that are antigenically divergent from the virus from which the nanoparticle hemagglutinin protein was obtained. Also provided are fusion proteins and nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins.