PRIMABioMed Limited announced that its Panvax subsidiary has been awarded a project by Prana Biotechnology to collaboratively develop an effective therapeutic vaccine for Alzheimer's disease. The project is also being supported by a $250,000 Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) grant from the Commonwealth government.

Panvax has been developing its DCtag vaccine adjuvant, which induces high levels of antibodies and T-cell responses required for effective protection against a range of diseases. Panvax has previously reported that DCtag can both protect against and treat malaria and cancer.

Prana Biotechnology has identified protein fragments of the Beta Amyloid protein as potentially suitable and highly specific targets for Alzheimer antibody therapy. The Beta Amyloid protein accumulates in the brain tissue of Alzheimer's patients and contributes to the disease, and these protein fragments could be used to vaccinate people against the disease.

By combining Prana's protein fragments with the DCtag vaccine vehicle, the companies hope to generate an effective therapeutic vaccine, generating antibodies to the Beta Amyloid protein that will assist in the eradication of the protein from the brain tissue. Any antibodies generated will be further progressed towards the development of monoclonal antibody products for passive therapy. Both active (vaccination) and passive (antibody) treatment could improve outcomes for patients with the disease. Vaccination could further prove effective in protecting people against Alzheimer's disease. Panvax researchers, located at The Austin Research Institute and Prana researchers at University of Melbourne will conduct the research and development program.

Annual sales of existing Alzheimer's Disease treatments total more than $1 billion. Current treatments provide minimal alleviation of symptoms without addressing the underlying pathology of the disease.

Panvax and Prana Biotechnology will jointly share in the benefits of any intellectual property produced from the collaboration including milestone payments and royalties that may accrue as a consequence of producing a successful therapeutic vaccine therapy.