Scientific program

The primary focus of EuroVacc’s scientific program is the development of poxvirus vector-based candidate vaccines against HIV/AIDS. Clinical evaluations have shown very promising results, in particular when used in a prime-boost combination with DNA based vaccines.

Why poxvirus vector-based vaccines?

There is a strong scientific, industrial and regulatory rationale for developing poxvirus vector-based vaccines:

• Poxvirus vector-based vaccines have a long development history and have proven to be efficacious at inducing therapeutic and protective immune responses in several infectious diseases and tumor immunotherapy models;
• In the veterinary field, a number of safe and effective vaccines based on poxvirus vectors have been successfully developed to commercial products;
• There is a robust production process in place;
• The STEP trials have revealed potential association between pre-existing immunity to the vector and enhanced susceptibility to HIV infection. However, unlike Ad5 which is prevalent in more than 80% of the world population, smallpox has been eradicated and the smallpox vaccination program was stopped in 1974. Therefore, for poxvirus-based vaccines, the problem of pre-existing immunity does not apply to the majority of the population, particular in the developing countries.