New Kind of Vaccine Against Viral Diseases

A new approach is being used to develop a kind of vaccine that would be effective against most viral diseases.

The new method involves blocking angiotensin II production with a suitable angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or blocking the action of angiotensin II at type 1 receptors with an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). This is expected to tone down the host's initial immune response, which is similar to what a good vaccine does. Angiotensin II is important in getting the innate immune response started, because ACE is expressed on macrophages and T-cells when these cells get activated. All immune cells, including macrophages, T- and B-cells, and neutrophils, contain type 1 receptors for angiotensin II. The patient's blood pressure should be the guide as to whether an ACE inhibitor or an ARB is used.

The method is being developed by GenoMed, Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA; www.genomedics.com), which notes that it is the host's initial immune response, not overgrowth of the virus, that kills the host in most cases, excepting immunocompromised patients taking steroids or chemotherapy. Respiratory viruses like influenza, Hantavirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cause death due to an acute respiratory distress-like syndrome (ARDS) brought about by an overly exuberant innate immune response, states GenoMed. Furthermore, blocking angiotensin II is already known to be extremely safe from its use in millions of patients.

GenoMed has entered into an agreement with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to test the company's compounds in tissue culture assays to evaluate potential activity against influenza, West Nile virus, and SARS. The company says that anyone can test the method. "The Internet now makes it possible for anybody to enroll in our free clinical trials at any time of day or night anywhere in the world, simply by going to our website and clicking on the relevant trial,” said Dr. David Moskowitz, chief medical officer and CEO, GenoMed.




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