スウェーデン Simplexia！

探してみたらホントに色々とあるものです！

人間の探究心というか開発力はスゴイですね！

今回は、スウェーデンのSahlgrenska Academyから研究が始まった、Simplexiaという抗HSV2 ワクチン開発についてです。

開発者のJosefin Liljeqvist と Åsa Ekholmによれば…、

「Simplexiaはタンパク質をベースとしたワクチンで、人工的に弱毒化されたワクチンではないので比較的安心」ということのようで、体内でウイルスの感染がどのように作用するのかを緻密に理解することからヒントを得たようです…。

（詳細についてはちょっとわからないですが…汗）


現段階では未だ動物実験のようですが、国やGöteborgBIO、Sahlgrenska Science Parkなどから研究資金の提供を受けていること、その上、研究環境も非常に整っていることから、実用化に向けた研究もバンバン進められることかと思います！

この研究の特徴は、現在流行となっている、遺伝子操作によるワクチン製造ではなく、従来の生物学的なアプローチ（どのようなものかはイマイチわかりませんが…スミマセン汗）で研究・開発を進めているようなので、時間とお金がかかるのですが新しい発見があるかもしれません！


「色んなところで、色んな人が、色んな方法で研究しているんだなぁ…」


と思った銭形でした…。



Published: 2011-08-26 06:13


Simplexia on the road to a new herpes vaccine

http://goteborgbio.org/slideshow/simplexiaontheroadtoanewherpesvaccine.5.6d4e5461131cc001f6380001841.html

Half a billion people around the world are estimated today to be infected with genital herpes* , a disease that can cause severe symptoms and serious complications. Simplexia is working purposefully on a special protein in order to come up with a vaccine.

Simplexia is a vaccine project that has emerged from research at SahlgrenskaAcademy, where a research team has identified a protein that can be used as a vaccine against genital herpes.

Josefin Liljeqvist and Åsa Ekholm, both with Masters of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, met at Göteborg International Bioscience Business School (GIBBS) and are, today, working as business developers at Simplexia.

"We're working on the development of a protein-based vaccine, which offers a great advantage compared with other vaccines that contain attenuated viruses," says Josefin.

"In addition, we have a completely unique approach, without being controversial. By taking account of how the infection behaves in humans, we have great opportunities to be successful in our studies," Åsa adds.

Long-term planning

"Our vaccine is produced biologically, unlike medicines that are produced synthetically, so the production process is long," says Josefin. "It will take a few years before the time has come to test on humans, and the research required will be extensive, costly and time-consuming," she emphasises. "It's under those circumstances that we are now working hard to predict all imaginable future scenarios for the development and commercialisation process. It will therefore be extremely important to do the right things, in the right way and in the right order. We can't afford to make any mistakes," she explains.

Innovation support builds value

The project is financed by soft loans and research grants, in part through verification support from GöteborgBIO and SahlgrenskaSciencePark and government money from Vinnova.

"Right now we're in the pre-clinical phase where the vaccine is being tested on animals, and with the funding we´ve obtained we can carry out the most critical studies," says Åsa.

"Obtaining verification grants is extremely valuable," Josefin emphasises. "It builds value, minimises risk and gives us greater opportunities to obtain future venture capital."

Infectious and costly

Despite genital herpes affecting so many people around the world, it is an area of taboo.

"The infection can result in serious side-effects and cause great human suffering, and is estimated to cost as much as 1.3 billion dollars a year in the United States alone," says Åsa.

"The world is really in need of a vaccine for genital herpes."

Appreciated innovation environment

Simplexia is an innovation project from GIBBS and Encubator, and since the spring of 2011 has also been part of the Sahlgrenska Science Park incubator. Both Josefin and Åsa speak warmly of the support and appreciation they receive in the Gothenburg innovation environment.

"We really help one another and share experiences," says Åsa. Establishing a diagnosis for genital herpes is a future vision. "At a later stage we might very well be able to develop a test, based on the knowledge we now have in connection with the development of a vaccine," Åsa concludes.

www.simplexia.seexternal link, opens in new window