Generex Biotechnology Corporation's wholly owned subsidiary, Antigen Express, Inc., has been awarded a Japanese patent. This will strengthen the company's proprietary antigen presentation technology platform.

The patent, entitled "Regulation of Antigen Presentation", would enhance specific aspects the Antigen Express peptide vaccine and immunomodulation technology, the company said.

The technology protected under the patent relates to specific methods for enhancing antigen-specific T helper cell stimulation using small synthetic peptides. Both prophylactic and immunotherapeutic vaccine peptides are currently under development at Antigen Express. The most advanced of these is an immunotherapeutic vaccine that has entered phase II clinical trials in breast cancer patients and a Phase I trial in patients with prostate cancer. Other vaccine peptides, designed using the same technology, are being tested in a phase I clinical trial for their ability to generate an immune response against the potentially pandemic H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The importance of antigen-specific T helper stimulation in controlling the immune response has been demonstrated in many areas of immunology ranging from protection against infectious diseases to oncology to autoimmunity. Consequently, specific means for controlling T helper cell stimulation offers the possibility of a wide range of therapeutics. Antigen Express has aggressively pursued development and intellectual property coverage of its technology platforms as well product development.

Generex is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of drug delivery systems and technologies. Generex has developed a proprietary platform technology for the delivery of drugs into the human body through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs).