Leishmania Protein Functions as Adjuvant

Applied Genetics News, April, 1999

Corixa Corp. (1124 Columbia St., Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98104; Tel: 206/754-5711, Fax: 206/ 54-5715, Website: www.corixa.com) has been issued three patents covering Corixa's proprietary vaccine adjuvant protein known as Leishmania elongation initiation factor (LeIF).

The protein has been found to stimulate and enhance immune responses to antigens in a variety of pre-clinical studies. The protein stimulates a protective Th1 immune responsible that may be useful in improving the efficacy of various prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. The patents stem from experiments conducted and directed by Steven Reed, executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Corixa. U.S. Patent 5,876,966 covers the LeIF protein encoded by specific gene sequences. Patents 5,876,735 and 5,879,687 cover methods of enhancing or eliciting immune response to antigens using LeIF as an adjuvant. SmithKline Beecham holds an option to license LeIf for adjuvant use in vaccine products developed under its collaboration with Corixa. "We look forward to incorporating LeIF as a critical component in multiple cancer and infectious disease vaccines," says Steven Gillis, CEO of Corixa.