7 Hills Pharma was awarded a 3-year grant worth $3 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to progress its work with collaborator Dr. Nisha Garg from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) toward the creation of the first vaccine against Chagas disease.
Chagas disease is one of five Neglected Parasitic Infections prioritized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc), which is spread by triatomine bugs, also known as “kissing bugs.” With over 7 million annual recorded cases, approximately 81 million individuals at risk of Tc exposure in Latin America, and large-scale migration from endemic to other countries, including the USA, Chagas disease is a serious and growing global public health concern. Chagas disease infection can cause cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure, leading to over 50,000 deaths per year worldwide. The annual economic burden of Chagas disease is estimated at over $7 billion.
Dr. Garg’s lab developed a novel DNA-based vaccine to protect against Tc infection, which was tested in preclinical models in combination with 7HP’s lead, clinical-stage oral immunostimulant. Results of this initial study, published in the peer-reviewed journal npj Vaccines, demonstrated that the combination therapy was effective in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to leverage our unique, selective oral integrin activation technology to improve the lives of millions suffering from this underrecognized scourge and protect many millions more from the potentially devastating outcomes of Chagas disease,” said Dr. Upendra Marathi, CEO of 7 Hills.
“Developing a vaccine that could prophylactically prevent Tc infection would increase the lifespan and economic productivity of millions worldwide. Further, a vaccine could be used to modulate the immune response in those who are already infected such that it prevents the clinical symptoms of Chagas disease,” said Dr. Nisha Garg, Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Subscribe to our e-Newsletters
Stay up to date with the latest news, articles, and events. Plus, get special offers
from American Pharmaceutical Review – all delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up now!