Patent Application
20240307515
The current medical practice in vaccinology is to universally administer the same set of vaccines to everyone in the population, in the absence of a contraindication, with several assumptions underlying this approach. One of these assumptions is that essentially everyone will react in the same way immunologically by developing protective levels of antibody, or cell-mediated immunity, with near non-existent rates of relevant side effects. The major weakness of this approach is that it ignores individual variability in disease risk immunologic response, and any genetic propensity for reactogenicity, as well as differences in dose amount needed to generate immunity. At the same time, advances in immunology, genetics, molecular biology and bioinformatics have demonstrated the value of a personalized approach to therapeutic drug selection and dosing.
Moreover, recent advances in genomics and proteomics focused on mutations in a patient related to a disease. For example, the tumor mutanome have revealed that every tumor has a unique set of ‘driver’ mutations and ‘passenger’ mutations. These observations have provided unique opportunities for personalized therapies. Tumor cells expressing mutated proteins, such as neoantigens, present these new epitopes in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. In contrast to tumor-associated antigens, whose expression is shared among healthy and tumor cells, neoantigens arise from mutations in tumors and are, therefore, fully restricted to tumor cells. Thus, immunotherapies that capitalize on rich genomic and proteomic data to develop personalized strategies based on mutations related to a disease enable the highly specific targeting of cells involved in the disease without risking healthy tissues and without being limited by immune tolerance mechanisms.
Non-viral gene delivery offers potential solutions to the limitations of viral-vector-based vaccines, as exemplified by the reports of optimized DNA-based gene-delivery systems developed over the past few decades. Direct injection of naked DNA plasmid in mice via the intramuscular, intradermal or intravenous routes enables the transfection of the gene of interest into muscle, skin and liver tissue, respectively, but the in vivo transfection efficiency of naked DNA is limited by its chemical instability, susceptibility to nuclease attack, rapid clearance and inefficient delivery to local lymph nodes. Cationic lipids have been widely used to form liposomal complexes with DNA for increased transfection, and new delivery systems such as transdermal patches can enhance the targeted delivery of DNA plasmids to skin-resident dendritic cells. Especially for mRNA-based vaccines, the chemical instability and low transfection efficacy of mRNA remain major barriers to therapeutic efficacy, and the in vivo delivery of naked mRNA remains challenging.
To solve the problem of instability of DNA, RNA, peptide or a vaccine thereof, the present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a method of manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to a subject, comprising synthesizing a vaccine comprising a DNA, RNA or peptide, and packaging the vaccine in a cartridge configured to be loaded to an injector.
In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides a method of administering a personalized vaccine to a subject, comprising manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to the subject in accordance with the method disclosed herein, loading the cartridge to the injector, and injecting the personalized vaccine to the subject from the injector.
In another aspect, the present disclosure further provides a method of treating or ameliorating a disease related to a mutation in a subject, comprising administering a personalized vaccine to the subject according to the method disclosed herein.
In another aspect, the present disclosure yet further provides an injector comprising an igniter and a removable cartridge. In some embodiments, the removeable cartridge is configured to contain a vaccine comprising a DNA, RNA or peptide. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of the injector for administering a personalized vaccine to a subject according to the method described herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of the injector for treating or ameliorating a tumor in a subject according to the method described herein.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various forms. The following embodiments are described in order to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and practice embodiments of the present disclosure.
Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of exemplary embodiments. The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exemplary embodiments. The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” used above, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. All terminologies used herein including technical and scientific terminologies may hold the same meaning as are generally understood by those skilled in the art of technology of the present invention. Predefined, commonly used terminologies can hold the same or similar meaning to the contextual meaning of the relevant technology, and is not interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
As used herein, the term “about” means modifying, for example, lengths of nucleotide sequences, degrees of errors, dimensions, the quantity of an ingredient in a composition, concentrations, volumes, process temperature, process time, yields, flow rates, pressures, and like values, and ranges thereof, refers to variation in the numerical quantity that may occur, for example, through typical measuring and handling procedures used for making compounds, compositions, concentrates or use formulations; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of starting materials or ingredients used to carry out the methods; and like considerations. The term “about” also encompasses amounts that differ due to aging of, for example, a composition, formulation, or cell culture with a particular initial concentration or mixture, and amounts that differ due to mixing or processing a composition or formulation with a particular initial concentration or mixture. Whether modified by the term “about” the claims appended hereto include equivalents to these quantities. The term “about” further may refer to a range of values that are similar to the stated reference value. In certain embodiments, the term “about” refers to a range of values that fall within 50, 25, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 percent or less of the stated reference value.
With reference to the appended drawings, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below. To aid in understanding the present disclosure, like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures, and the description of the same elements will be not reiterated.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to a subject, comprising synthesizing a vaccine comprising a DNA, RNA or peptide, and packaging the vaccine in a cartridge configured to be loaded to an injector.
The term “vaccine” means a biological preparation that induces or improves immunity against a particular disease. Typically, the vaccine comprises a conventional saline or buffered aqueous solution medium in which the composition of the present invention is suspended or dissolved. In this form, the composition of the present invention can be used conveniently to prevent, ameliorate, or otherwise treat a disease or disorder, such as an infection. Upon introduction into a host, the vaccine is able to provoke an immune response including, but not limited to, the production of antibodies and/or cytokines and/or the activation of CD8+ T cells, antigen presenting cells, CD4+ T cells, dendritic cells and/or other cellular responses.
In certain embodiments, a packaged vaccine may mean that the vaccine is in a container, and the container may be a sealed cartridge that can be later connected to an injector that will inject the vaccine to the subject. In certain embodiments, “personalized” herein may mean that the vaccine is tailored for the specific subject, and the cartridge is labeled or organized so that the vaccine in the cartridge can be delivered to the specific subject. The term “cartridge” means an element of an injector configured for removable installation in an injector. In certain embodiments, the mechanical movement of the moving parts of the injector controls the operation of the cartridge outside the cartridge, i.e. externally. In additional embodiments, the cartridge comprises a linear arrangement of a valve, which is associated with an orifice to which another part of the injector can be attached, either by piercing the cartridge's membrane separating element with a needle or through gas-tight connections. The valve may have a male-to-male part connection that mates with the corresponding movable handle of the injector. External rotation of the handle may control the opening or closing of the valve when the cartridge is attached to the injector.
In certain embodiments, the packaged vaccine herein may be sealed and opened only at the time of the administration. In some embodiments, the vaccine is packaged in the cartridge directly from the synthesizing. In some embodiments, the cartridge is vacuumed.
In certain embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide in the vaccine described herein is a DNA. In certain embodiments, the vaccine described herein excludes a DNA, and the vaccine is not a DNA solution.
DNA is the usual abbreviation for deoxy-ribonucleic acid. It is a nucleic acid molecule, i.e. a polymer consisting of nucleotides. These nucleotides are usually deoxy-adenosine-monophosphate, deoxy-thymidine-monophosphate, deoxy-guanosine-monophosphate and deoxy-cytidine-monophosphate monomers, which are—by themselves—composed of a sugar moiety (deoxyribose), a base moiety and a phosphate moiety, and polymerise to form a characteristic backbone structure. The backbone structure is, typically, formed by phosphodiester bonds between the sugar moiety of the nucleotide, i.e. deoxyribose, of a first and a phosphate moiety of a second, adjacent monomer. The specific order of the monomers, i.e. the order of the bases linked to the sugar/phosphate-backbone, is called the DNA sequence. DNA may be single stranded or double stranded. In the double stranded form, the nucleotides of the first strand typically hybridize with the nucleotides of the second strand, e.g. by A/T-base-pairing and G/C-base-pairing.
In certain embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein is an RNA. The RNA may be selected from the group consisting of a small interfering RNA (siRNA), an asymmetrical interfering RNA (aiRNA), a microRNA (miRNA), a Dicer-substrate RNA (dsRNA), a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), and mixtures thereof.
In certain embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein is a peptide. A peptide or polypeptide is typically a polymer of amino acid monomers, linked by peptide bonds. It typically contains less than 50 monomer units. Nevertheless, the term peptide is not a disclaimer for molecules having more than 50 monomer units. Long peptides are also called polypeptides, typically having between 50 and 600 monomeric units.
In certain embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein is an RNA. RNA is the usual abbreviation for ribonucleic-acid. It is a nucleic acid molecule, i.e. a polymer consisting of nucleotides. These nucleotides are usually adenosine-monophosphate, uridine-monophosphate, guanosine-monophosphate and cytidine-monophosphate monomers which are connected to each other along a so-called backbone. The backbone is formed by phosphodiester bonds between the sugar, i.e. ribose, of a first and a phosphate moiety of a second, adjacent monomer. The specific succession of the monomers is called the RNA sequence. Usually, RNA may be obtainable by transcription of a DNA sequence, e.g., inside a cell. In eukaryotic cells, transcription is typically performed inside the nucleus or the mitochondria. In vivo, transcription of DNA usually results in the so-called premature RNA, which has to be processed into so-called messenger RNA, usually abbreviated as mRNA. Processing of the premature RNA, e.g. in eukaryotic organisms, comprises a variety of different posttranscriptional-modifications such as splicing, 5′-capping, polyadenylation, export from the nucleus or the mitochondria and the like. The sum of these processes is also called maturation of RNA. The mature messenger RNA usually provides the nucleotide sequence that may be translated into an amino acid sequence of a particular peptide or protein. Typically, a mature mRNA comprises a 5′-cap, a 5′-UTR, an open reading frame, a 3′-UTR and a poly(A) sequence. Aside from messenger RNA, several non-coding types of RNA exist, which may be involved in the regulation of transcription and/or translation.
In certain embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein is an mRNA. An mRNA may encode any peptide of interest, including any naturally or non-naturally occurring or otherwise modified peptide. A peptide encoded by an mRNA may be of any size and may have any secondary structure or activity. In additional embodiments, a peptide encoded by an mRNA may have a therapeutic effect when expressed in a cell. The RNA or mRNA described herein may include a first region of linked nucleosides encoding a peptide of interest (e.g., a coding region), a first flanking region located at the 5′-terminus of the first region (e.g., a 5′-UTR), a second flanking region located at the 3′-terminus of the first region (e.g., a 3′-UTR), at least one 5′-cap region, and a 3′-stabilizing region. In certain embodiments, the RNA or mRNA further includes a poly-A region or a Kozak sequence (e.g., in the 5′-UTR). In certain embodiments, the RNA or mRNA may include a 5′ cap structure, a chain terminating nucleotide, a stem loop, a polyA sequence, and/or a polyadenylation signal. Any one of the regions of the RNA or mRNA may include one or more alternative components (e.g., an alternative nucleoside). For example, the 3′-stabilizing region may contain an alternative nucleoside such as an L-nucleoside, an inverted thymidine, or a 2′-O-methyl nucleoside and/or the coding region, 5′-UTR, 3′-UTR, or cap region may include an alternative nucleoside such as a 5-substituted uridine (e.g., 5-methoxyuridine), a 1-substituted pseudouridine (e.g., 1-methyl-pseudouridine or 1-ethyl-pseudouridine), and/or a 5-substituted cytidine (e.g., 5-methyl-cytidine).
In some embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein is a naked nucleic acid molecule. “Naked” nucleic acid molecule refers to a nucleic acid molecule that is not associated with proteins, lipids, or any other molecule to help protect it. The naked nucleic acid molecules may be produced in the laboratory for use in, or as the result of, genetic engineering. In some embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein is a naked mRNA. In some embodiments, an amount of the naked mRNA in the cartridge is at least about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 μg. In additional embodiments, an amount of the naked mRNA in the cartridge is about 200, 190, 180, 170, 160, 150, 140, 130, 120, 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 μg or less. In further embodiments, an amount of the naked mRNA in the cartridge is about from 0.2 μg to 150 μg, from 50 μg to 100 μg, from 10 μg to 150 μg, from 30 μg to 100 μg or from 20 μg to 110 μg.
Despite the recent progress of vaccine delivery systems, the in vivo delivery of the vaccine remains challenging. For example, in the case of mRNA vaccines, the ribose sugar backbone of RNA, unlike the deoxyribose sugar backbone in DNA, is prone to hydrolysis, which reduces the stability of RNA molecules in circulation. Mammalian mRNAs are on average ˜2,000 nucleotides long, and a single event of hydrolysis along the mRNA backbone can impede its translation. Furthermore, ubiquitous ribonucleases within the body decrease the stability of RNA and reduce its therapeutic efficacy. By using the cartridge described herein, however, the personalized vaccines may remain viable without a modification to the DNA, RNA or peptide or to the vaccine composition. In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes a nanoparticle. In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes a cationic lipid. In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes a PEG lipid. In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes a phospholipid. In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes a lipid. In some embodiments, the vaccine includes an adjuvant. In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes an adjuvant. In certain embodiments, the adjuvant may be polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C). In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes a DNA-encoded immunostimulatory gene. In some embodiments, the vaccine excludes a liposome. In some embodiments, the vaccine is non-viral. In some embodiments, the vaccine consists of the DNA, RNA or peptide, and a buffer. In additional embodiments, the buffer may be saline.
In certain embodiments, the subject has a disease related to a mutation. The disease herein may include a disorder caused by a genetic mutation. In additional embodiments, and the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein comprises the mutation.
The vaccine described herein may be a therapeutic vaccine comprising antigen DNA, RNA or peptide. In certain embodiments, the antigen DNA or RNA described herein expresses an antigen. In the context of the present invention, “antigen” refers typically to a substance which may be recognized by the immune system, preferably by the adaptive immune system, and is capable of triggering an antigen-specific immune response, e.g. by formation of antibodies and/or antigen-specific T cells as part of an adaptive immune response. Typically, an antigen may be or may comprise a peptide or protein, which may be presented by the MHC to T-cells. In the sense of the present invention, an antigen may be the product of translation of a provided nucleic acid molecule as defined herein. In this context, also fragments, variants and derivatives of peptides and proteins comprising at least one epitope are understood as antigens. In certain embodiments, the naked nucleic acid molecule described herein expresses an antigen selected from the group consisting of a pathogenic antigen, a tumor antigen, an allergenic antigen and an autoimmune antigen. The antigen may be derived from a pathogen associated with an infectious disease. The antigen may be selected from the group consisting of a bacterial, a viral, a fungal and a protozoan pathogen. Vaccines can be made, for example, according to methods disclosed in WO2022112498A, WO2022049093A, or U.S. Ser. No. 15/304,701, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In some embodiments, the subject has a tumor. In additional embodiments, the DNA, RNA or peptide comprises a tumor-specific mutation.
In certain embodiments, the antigen DNA, RNA or peptide may be a neoantigen DNA, RNA or peptide. Genetic instability of tumor cells may lead to the occurrence of mutations, and expression of non-synonymous mutations may produce tumor-specific antigens called neoantigens. Neoantigens are highly immunogenic as they are not expressed in normal tissues. They can activate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to generate immune response and have the potential to become new targets of tumor immunotherapy. The development of bioinformatics technology has accelerated the identification of neoantigens, and various neoantigens have been identified. Castle, J. C. et al. Exploiting the Mutanome for Tumor Vaccination, Cancer Res. 72, 1081-1091 (2012); Yadav, M. et al. Predicting immunogenic tumour mutations by combining mass spectrometry and exome sequencing, Nature 515, 572-576 (2014); Gubin, M. M. et al. Checkpoint blockade cancer immunotherapy targets tumour-specific mutant antigens, Nature 515, 577-581 (2014); Kreiter, S. et al. Mutant MHC class II epitopes drive therapeutic immune responses to cancer, Nature 520, 692-696 (2015); Ott, P. A. et al. An immunogenic personal neoantigen vaccine for patients with melanoma, Nature 547, 217-221 (2017); Sahin, U. et al. Personalized RNA mutanome vaccines mobilize poly-specific therapeutic immunity against cancer, Nature 547, 222-226 (2017); Keskin, D. B. et al. Neoantigen vaccine generates intratumoral T cell responses in phase Ib glioblastoma trial, Nature 565, 234-239 (2019); Hilf, N. et al. Actively personalized vaccination trial for newly diagnosed glioblastoma, Nature 565, 240-245 (2019). In some embodiments, the antigen DNA, mRNA or peptide may be a neoantigen mRNA.
In certain embodiments, the antigen DNA, RNA or peptide may be a neoantigen DNA, RNA or peptide, and the cartridge may further contain an additional vaccine including patient-derived dendritic cell (DC) or a synthetic long peptide (SLP). In some embodiments, the antigen DNA, RNA or peptide may be a neoantigen mRNA. Cellular therapies based on patient-derived DCs (e.g., obtained from the ex vivo differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes) loaded with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) may be infused back into the patient to enhance T-cell activation and tumor-cell killing. In some embodiments, the cartridge further comprises a blocking antibody specific for an immune checkpoint protein. In some embodiments, the immune checkpoint protein comprises cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and/or programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1). These antibodies, designed to liberate T cells from the immunosuppression mediated by the CTLA-4 and PD-1 pathways, may promote potent and durable T-cell responses that can eliminate tumors and lead to cancer remission.
In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to a subject described herein further comprises detecting a mutation from a sample collected from the subject. In additional embodiments, the detecting may comprise whole exome DNA and/or RNA sequencing of genome of the subject. In further embodiments, the detecting may comprise comparing a genomic sequence of the subject with a reference somatic genome sequence. In yet further embodiments, the detecting may comprise whole exome DNA and/or RNA sequencing of a tumor of the subject. In yet further embodiments, the detecting may comprise comparing a genomic sequence of a tumor of the subject with a reference somatic genome sequence. In some embodiments, the sample is a tumor biopsy sample.
In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to a subject described herein further comprises identifying the DNA, RNA or peptide related to a disease based on a mutation detected from a sample collected from the subject. In additional embodiments, the identifying comprises predicting proteasome processing. In additional embodiments, the identifying comprises predicting MHC class-I and class-II binding affinities. In further embodiments, the identifying comprises mass-spectrometry analyses of immunoprecipitated peptides. In some embodiments, the sample is a tumor biopsy sample.
An exemplary detecting and identifying methods are described in Ott, P. A. et al. An immunogenic personal neoantigen vaccine for patients with melanoma, Nature 547, 217-221 (2017), and other references cited herein.
In certain embodiments, the subject is in need of a vaccine against an infectious disease. In some embodiments, the vaccine triggers an antigen-specific immune response against coronavirus, including, but not limited to, Sars-COV2. In certain embodiments, the vaccine is a cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine, for example, including, but not limited to, the mRNA described in John, S. et al. Multi-antigenic human cytomegalovirus mRNA vaccines that elicit potent humoral and cell-mediated immunity, Vaccine 36(12), 1689-1699 (2018).
In certain embodiments, the packaged vaccine is stored at a room temperature. In additional embodiments, the packaged vaccine is stored at a temperature between 2° C. and 8° C. In further embodiments, the packaged vaccine is stored at a temperature of −10, −20, −30, −40, −50, −60, −70° C. or below. In certain embodiments, the packaged vaccine may be diluted before being administered to a subject before or after the storage.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of administering a personalized vaccine to a subject, comprising manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to the subject in accordance with the method disclosed herein, loading the cartridge to the injector, and injecting the personalized vaccine to the subject from the injector.
In some embodiments, the injector described herein may comprise the cartridge and an igniter, wherein when the igniter ignites a content of the cartridge is injected into a target.
In some embodiments, the injector is needleless. In certain embodiments, the injector may be a needleless injector, the needleless injector comprising: the cartridge described herein, an igniter including an igniter powder which exhibits such a pressure characteristic that a plasma is generated during combustion immediately after ignition and then a generated pressure is lowered when a temperature becomes ordinary temperature and a combustion product is condensed on account of no gas component which is contained in the combustion product or any gas component which is contained in the combustion product and an amount of which is decreased as compared with that provided before the condensation; and a nozzle unit having a discharge port through which the vaccine pressurized by the combustion of the igniter powder in the igniter flows so that the vaccine is discharged to the injection target area. In additional embodiments, a temperature of the combustion product, which is provided during the pressurization, changes to a neighborhood of the ordinary temperature within 20 msec after a pressure, which is applied to the vaccine on account of the combustion of the igniter powder, reaches an initial peak discharge force during a pressurization process for discharging the vaccine. In additional embodiments, the temperature of the combustion product, which is provided during the pressurization, changes to the neighborhood of the ordinary temperature within 10 msec after the pressure, which is applied to the DNA solution on account of the combustion of the igniter powder, reaches the initial peak discharge force. In certain embodiments, the injector may be an injector that injects a vaccine into an injection target from an injector main body without performing injection through a given structure in a state where the given structure is inserted into the injection target. In additional embodiments, the injector comprises the cartridge, and a nozzle unit including an injection port through which the solution containing biomolecules flows and is injected into the injection target, the solution being pressurized by combustion of an ignition charge in an igniter. In additional embodiments, a maximum injection speed of the solution containing biomolecules between an injection start time of the solution containing biomolecules and a time of 0.20 ms is from 75 m/s to 150 m/s and an injection speed of the solution containing biomolecules of from 75 m/s to 150 m/s lasts for 0.11 ms or longer.
In certain embodiments, an exemplary injector and methods of using the injector may be those described in US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2018/0168789, 2018/0369484 and/or 2021/0023302, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In certain embodiments, the subject described herein is a human. In certain embodiments, the subject described herein is non-human. In certain embodiments, the subject described herein is a rodent. In certain embodiments, the subject described herein is mammal, bird, reptile, fish, amphibian, or invertebrate.
As described herein, the instability of vaccine is a challenge in expressing DNA or RNA of the vaccine in a subject. A method of injecting the vaccine may increase the expression of the DNA or RNA upon injection to the subject. In some embodiments, the injecting described herein exhibits a bi-phasic injection profile. The “bi-phasic injection profile” herein means that upon injection, at least two phases of injection pressure are measured over time. “A first phase of the bi-phasic injection profile” refers to the first phase measured, and “a second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile” refers to the second phase measured immediately after the first phase.
The bi-phasic injection profile may be accomplished by different pressure sources, for example, and an exemplary bi-phasic injection profile is as shown in
In certain embodiments, the transition of injection pressure and thus the injection profile may be modified by adopting different ignition charge materials in the igniter. For example, the ignition charge materials may include gunpowder (ZPP) containing zirconium and potassium perchlorate, gunpowder (THPP) containing titanium hydride and potassium perchlorate, gunpowder (TiPP) containing titanium and potassium perchlorate, gunpowder (APP) containing aluminum and potassium perchlorate, gunpowder (ABO) containing aluminum and bismuth oxide, gunpowder (AMO) containing aluminum and molybdenum oxide, gunpowder (ACO) containing aluminum and copper oxide, and gunpowder (AFO) containing aluminum and iron oxide, and gunpowder consisting of a combination of a plurality of these gunpowders. These gunpowders may exhibit characteristics in that, while high-temperature and high-pressure plasma is generated during combustion immediately after ignition, generated pressure drops abruptly once a combustion product reaches normal temperature and condenses since the combustion product does not have a gaseous component. Gunpowders other than the above may be used as the ignition charge material insofar as appropriate administration can be performed.
In certain embodiments, the transition of injection pressure and thus the injection profile may be modified by adopting different gas generating agents to be burned by a combustion product from the igniter to generate gas. The gas generating agent may be exposed to the combustion product from the igniter. The gas generating agents to be arranged inside the igniter is already well known as disclosed in WO 2001/031282 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-25950. In addition, examples of the gas generating agent include a single-base smokeless powder consisting of 98% by mass of nitrocellulose, 0.8% by mass of diphenylamine, and 1.2% by mass of potassium sulfate. Furthermore, various gas generating agents used in an airbag gas generator or a seat-belt pretensioner gas generator can also be used. By adjusting dimensions or a size, a shape, and particularly a surface profile of a gas generating agent when arranging the gas generating agent, a combustion completion time of the gas generating agent can be varied and, accordingly, a pressure transition applied to the dosing liquid can be adjusted and a desired injection pressure transition of the dosing liquid can be achieved.
The bi-phasic injection profile described herein is not limited to the injection pressure profile generated by ignition. The bi-phasic injection profile described herein may be accomplished by other methods, for example, by controlling gas volume and/or speed applied to the vaccine.
The injection profile shown in
In some embodiments, the bi-phasic injection profile has at least two peaks within about 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1 or 0.5 msec from the injecting. The term “from the injecting” herein may mean starting from the time that a pressure is starting to be applied to the vaccine and/or the time that an increase of pressure on the vaccine is detected. In certain embodiments, the bi-phasic injection profile has the first peak within about 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 or 0.1 msec from the injecting.
In some embodiments, the bi-phasic injection profile described herein may comprise a first phase comprising a plurality of vibration elements, each having a vibration peak and two local minimum values before and after the vibration peak. In some embodiments, the total amplitudes of the vibration elements decrease over time. In some embodiments, the at least two peaks described above are vibration peaks. In some embodiments, the first peak of the bi-phasic injection profile described above is a vibration peak.
In certain embodiments, the bi-phasic injection profile completes the first phase (e.g., the first phase is completed, for example, at the later local minimum of the last vibration element and/or at the start of the second phase) within about 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.9, 1.8, 1.7, 1.6, 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2, 1.1, 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 or 0.1 msec.
In
In some embodiments, the total amplitudes of the vibration elements of at least one phase of the bi-phasic injection profile decrease over time. In some embodiments, the total amplitudes of the vibration elements of the first phase of the bi-phasic injection profile decrease over time.
In some embodiments, the first peak of the bi-phasic injection profile described herein is at least about 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 MPa. In some embodiments, the first peak of the bi-phasic injection profile described herein is below about 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, or 35 MPa.
The first peak of the bi-phasic injection profile may be the highest peak of the first phase of the bi-phasic injection. The first peak of the bi-phasic injection profile may be the highest vibration peak of the first phase of the bi-phasic injection, and the later vibration elements of the first phase may have peaks of lower heights, for example, as shown in
Alternatively, the highest peak in the bi-phasic injection profile may be in the second phase of the bi-phasic injection as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, a period calculated from a peak value of the first vibration element S1 to a peak value of the second vibration element S2 is within about 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, or 0.3 msec. In certain embodiments, a period calculated from the peak value of the second vibration element S2 to a peak value of the third vibration element S3 is within about 1.1, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, or 0.3 msecs. While a period immediately before arrival of a converged state may be slightly shorter, the transition of injection pressure may take place at a generally constant period in the prescribed period of time Δt. In certain embodiments, the injection pressure transition in the prescribed period of time Δt may be a pressure vibration at a frequency of around 2200, 2100, 2000, 1900, 1800 or 1700 Hz or less. In certain embodiments, the pressure vibration may be at a frequency of around 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, or 2000 Hz or more. When the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is higher than the first phase, it may not be necessary to have vibration in injection pressure during the first phase of the bi-phasic profile. For example, when the pressure at the highest peak of the second phase is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 times larger than pressure at the highest peak of the first phase, the vibration of the first phase is not necessary for injection of the vaccine. Likewise, it may not be necessary to have vibration in injection pressure during the first phase of the bi-phasic injection profile when the first phase has a higher peak than the second phase.
In certain embodiments, the pressure fluctuation in the prescribed period of time Δt may be attributable to combustion of the ignition charge material of the igniter described herein. In addition, in a vicinity of a timing at which the prescribed period of time Δt lapses, combustion of a gas generating agent in the injector may be started by a combustion product of the ignition charge material and combustion energy thereof starts to further act on the vaccine. As a result, in the example shown in
In some embodiments, the bi-phasic injection profile may comprise a second phase having only one peak.
The height of the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic profile may be predetermined or adjusted depending on the subject tissue to which the vaccine is administered. In certain embodiments, for direct administration to organs and vulnerable lesions, the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is at least about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 MPa. In additional embodiments, the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is below about 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 MPa. In additional embodiments, the bi-phasic injection profile has the second peak about from 0.1 MPa to 15 MPa, from 1 MPa to 10 MPa, or from 3 MPa to 6 MPa. In certain embodiments, for transdermal injection, the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is at least about 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 or 35 MPa. In additional embodiments, the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is below about 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30 or 29 MPa. In additional embodiments, the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is from 30 MPa to 40 MPa, from 30 MPa to 36 MPa, or from 20 MPa to 36 MPa. In a further embodiment, the highest peak of the first phase may range from 10.0 MPa to 38.0 MPa, and the highest peak of the second phase may range from 25.0 MPa to 64.0 MPa.
In some embodiments, the highest peak of a second phase of the bi-phasic profile is lower than the highest peak of a first phase of the bi-phasic profile. In certain embodiments, the highest peak of a second phase of the bi-phasic profile is lower than the first peak of the first phase of the bi-phasic profile. In some embodiments, the highest peak of a first phase of the bi-phasic profile is lower than the highest peak of a second phase of the bi-phasic profile. In certain embodiments, the highest peak of a second phase of the bi-phasic profile is higher than the first peak of the first phase of the bi-phasic profile.
In certain embodiments, the injection is completed within about 400, 450, 300, 250, 200, 150, or 100 msec from the injecting.
In some embodiments, the injection is transdermal injection. In some embodiments, the injecting excludes transdermal injection.
In some embodiments, the injection is intramuscular. In some embodiments, the injection is subcutaneous. In some embodiments, the injection is intradermal. In some embodiments, the injection is intralesional. In certain embodiments, the vaccine may be injected to a particular organ of interest, for example during a surgery. In some embodiments, the injection is intratumoral. In some embodiments, the injection is the injection is intranodal. In some embodiments, excludes intranodal injection. In some embodiments, the injection is intralymphatic.
In some embodiments, an amount of mRNA in the personalized vaccine injected to the subject is at least about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 μg. In additional embodiments, an amount of mRNA in the personalized vaccine injected to the subject is about 200, 190, 180, 170, 160, 150, 140, 130, 120, 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 μg or less. In further embodiments, an amount of mRNA in the personalized vaccine injected to the subject is about from 0.2 μg to 150 μg, from 50 μg to 100 μg, from 10 μg to 150 μg, from 30 μg to 100 μg or from 20 μg to 110 μg.
In one aspect, the present disclosure further provides a method of treating or ameliorating a disease related to a mutation in a subject, comprising administering a personalized vaccine to the subject according to the method disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the disease is a tumor cancer.
In one aspect, the present disclosure yet further provides an injector comprising an igniter and a removable cartridge. The injector may be the injector described above. In some embodiments, the removeable cartridge is configured to contain the vaccine or the DNA, RNA or peptide described herein. In some embodiments, the injector excludes a needle. In some embodiments, the injector excludes a spring. In some embodiments, the injector is configured for intracellular delivery.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of this injector for administering a personalized vaccine to a subject according to the method described herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of the injector for treating or ameliorating a tumor in a subject according to the method described herein.
First, whether or not the gene expression of the administered mRNA was enhanced by administering the mRNA to a living body using the device was evaluated in the GFP-encoding mRNA (Naked mRNA_GFP). For administration, 10-week-old male BALB/c mice were used, and euthanasia and data collection were performed six hours after administration. The device used for administration was a container having a nozzle diameter of 0.1 mm, 30 mg of ZPP ignition material, and 30 mg of GG gas generation material. The dose per administration was 20 uL, and the mRNA was 0.01 to 0.5 mg/mL (0.2 to 10 μg/shot). For gene expression, the skin at the administration site was attached to a Matsunami glass bottom dish and observed with a fluorescence microscope BZ-X710 manufactured by KEYENCE.
As a result, when administered using a 30G needle, only a small amount of gene expression was obtained at any amount of mRNA. On the other hand, when administered using the device, gene expression was confirmed in the administered skin at any mRNA amount of 0.01 to 0.5 mg/mL (
When the fluorescence intensity of GFP was compared between the 30G needle and the device, the one using the device clearly had strong fluorescence at any mRNA amount of 0.01 to 0.5 mg/mL (
(2) Effect of Device Gene Expression Enhancement on Luc-Encoding mRNA
The gene-expression enhancing effect of the device was evaluated for mRNA encoding Luc (Naked mRNA_Luc), which was a different protein. For administration, 10-week-old male BALB/c mice were used, and euthanasia and data collection were performed six hours after administration. The device used for administration was a container having a nozzle diameter of 0.1 mm, 30 mg of ZPP ignition material, and 30 mg of GG gas generation material. The dose per administration was 20 uL, and the mRNA was 0.01 to 0.1 mg/mL (0.2 to 2 μg/shot). For gene expression, an 8 mm biopsy pouch was used to sample the skin at the administration site, and a 5-fold diluted Passive Lysis Buffer 5× was used to prepare lysate. Then, using the Luciferase Assay System manufactured by Promega and the Luminometer C-100N manufactured by Kikkoman, the amount of luciferase emitted for 10 seconds was measured to evaluate gene expression.
As a result, as in the case of GFP, when administered using a 30G needle, only a small amount of gene expression was obtained at any mRNA amount. On the other hand, high gene expression was confirmed in those administered using the device (
Thus, since the gene-expression enhancing effect of the device was confirmed in multiple reporter proteins such as GFP and Luc, it was clarified that the gene expression by the device was independent of the gene sequence encoded by the mRNA. From this, it is considered that the gene-expression enhancing effect of the device can be obtained with mRNA encoding any genes.
An injector having a nozzle diameter of 0.5 mm was filled with 150 μL of water, and the injection pressure in the injector from when pressurization of water was performed by combustion of an ignition charge until after injection was evaluated. Regarding the explosive, 55 mg of an explosive containing zirconium and potassium perchlorate (ZPP) was used, and regarding the gas generating agent, 40 mg of a single base smokeless explosive (hereinafter referred to as “GG” in some cases) was used.
For measurement of the injection pressure, like the measurement method in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-21640, a method in which an injection force was distributed and applied to a diaphragm of a load cell arranged downstream from a nozzle, an output from the load cell was collected in a data collection display device via a detection amplifier, and displayed and stored as an injection force (N) for each time was used for measurement, and the injection pressure was calculated by dividing the injection force (N) by an area of a nozzle port. The measurements were obtained using CLS-2NA from Tokyo Measuring Instruments Laboratory Co. Ltd. In total, 30 measurements were made.
Of the 30 measurements, the two measurements in which the highest and lowest peaks of the second phase of the bi-phasic profile were detected are illustrated in
The same conditions used in Example 1 above were repeated except that the amounts of ZPP and GG were both increased from 55 mg to 65 mg. A total of 30 measurements were made and the two measurements in which the highest and lowest peaks of the second phase of the bi-phasic profile were detected are illustrated in in
The following are some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
Embodiment 1. A method of manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to a subject, comprising synthesizing a vaccine comprising a DNA, mRNA or peptide, and packaging the vaccine in a cartridge configured to be loaded to an injector.
Embodiment 2. The method according to embodiment 1, wherein the subject has a tumor, and the DNA, mRNA or peptide comprises a tumor-specific mutation.
Embodiment 3. The method according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the subject has a tumor, and the DNA, mRNA or peptide is a neoantigen DNA, mRNA or peptide.
Embodiment 4. The method according to any one of embodiments 1-3, further comprising detecting a mutation from a sample collected from the subject.
Embodiment 5. The method according to embodiment 4, the detecting comprises whole exome DNA and/or RNA sequencing of genome of the subject.
Embodiment 6. The method according to embodiment 4 or 5, wherein the detecting comprises comparing a genomic sequence of the subject with a reference somatic genome sequence.
Embodiment 7. The method according to any one of embodiments 4-6, wherein the detecting comprises whole exome DNA and/or RNA sequencing of a tumor of the subject.
Embodiment 8. The method according to any one of embodiments 4-7, wherein the detecting comprises comparing a genomic sequence of a tumor of the subject with a reference somatic genome sequence.
Embodiment 9. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, further comprising identifying the DNA, RNA or peptide related to a disease based on a mutation detected from a sample collected from the subject.
Embodiment 10. The method according to embodiment 9, wherein the identifying comprises predicting proteasome processing and MHC class-I and class-II binding affinities.
Embodiment 11. The method according to embodiment 9 or 10, wherein the identifying comprises mass-spectrometry analyses of immunoprecipitated peptides.
Embodiment 12. The method according to any one of embodiments 3-11, wherein the sample is a tumor biopsy sample.
Embodiment 13. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine excludes a nanoparticle.
Embodiment 14. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine excludes a cationic lipid.
Embodiment 15. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine excludes a lipid.
Embodiment 16. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine excludes an adjuvant.
Embodiment 17. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine excludes a DNA-encoded immunostimulatory gene.
Embodiment 18. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine excludes a liposome.
Embodiment 19. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine is non-viral.
Embodiment 20. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine consists of the neoantigen DNA, mRNA or peptide, and a buffer.
Embodiment 21. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the DNA, mRNA or peptide is a naked nucleic acid molecule.
Embodiment 22. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the DNA, mRNA or peptide is a naked mRNA.
Embodiment 23. The method according to embodiment 22, wherein an amount of the naked mRNA in the cartridge is at least 0.2 μg.
Embodiment 24. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine is packaged in the cartridge directly from the synthesizing.
Embodiment 25. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cartridge is vacuumed.
Embodiment 26. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the vaccine triggers an antigen-specific immune response against coronavirus.
Embodiment 27. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cartridge further comprises a blocking antibody specific for an immune checkpoint protein.
Embodiment 28. The method according to embodiment 27, wherein the immune checkpoint protein comprises cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and/or programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1).
Embodiment 29. The method according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the injector further comprises an igniter, wherein when the igniter ignites so that a content of the cartridge is injected into a target.
Embodiment 30. A method of administering a personalized vaccine to a subject, comprising manufacturing a packaged vaccine personalized to the subject in accordance with the method of any one of the preceding embodiments, loading the cartridge to the injector, and injecting the personalized vaccine to the subject from the injector.
Embodiment 31. The method according to embodiment 30, wherein the injecting exhibits a bi-phasic injection profile comprising a first phase and a second phase, the second phase being after the first phase.
Embodiment 32. The method according to embodiment 31, wherein the bi-phasic injection profile has at least two peaks within 15 msec from the injecting.
Embodiment 33. The method according to embodiment 31 or 32, wherein the bi-phasic injection profile has at least two peaks within 1.5 msec from the injecting.
Embodiment 34. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-33, wherein the bi-phasic injection profile has the first peak within 5 msec.
Embodiment 35. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-34, wherein the first phase comprises a plurality of vibration elements, each having a vibration peak.
Embodiment 36. The method according to embodiment 35, wherein said at least two peaks are the vibration peaks of the vibration elements.
Embodiment 37. The method according to embodiment 35 or 36, wherein total amplitudes of said vibration elements decrease over time.
Embodiment 38. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-37, wherein the first peak is at least 2 MPa.
Embodiment 39. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-38, wherein the first peak is at least 15 MPa.
Embodiment 40. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-39, wherein the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is within 30 msec from the injecting.
Embodiment 41. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-40, wherein the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic injection profile is within 15 msec from the injecting.
Embodiment 42. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-41, wherein the bi-phasic injection profile comprises the second phase having only one peak.
Embodiment 43. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-42, wherein the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic profile is at least 0.1 MPa.
Embodiment 44. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-43, wherein the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic profile is at least 10 MPa.
Embodiment 45. The method according to any one of embodiments 31-44, wherein the highest peak of the second phase of the bi-phasic profile is lower than the highest peak of a first phase of the bi-phasic profile.
Embodiment 46. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-45, the injection is transdermal injection.
Embodiment 47. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-45, wherein the injecting excludes transdermal injection.
Embodiment 48. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-47, the injection is intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intradermal.
Embodiment 49. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-47, the injection is intralesional.
Embodiment 50. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-47, wherein the injection is intratumoral.
Embodiment 51. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-47, wherein the injection is intranodal or intralymphatic.
Embodiment 52. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-50, wherein the injection excludes intranodal injection.
Embodiment 53. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-52, wherein an amount of mRNA in the personalized vaccine injected to the subject is at least 0.2 μg.
Embodiment 54. The method according to any one of embodiments 30-53, wherein the injector is needleless.
Embodiment 55. The method according to embodiments 30-54, wherein the injector further comprises an igniter, wherein when the igniter ignites so that a content of the cartridge is injected into a target.
Embodiment 56. A method of treating, ameliorating or preventing a disease related to a mutation in a subject, comprising administering a personalized vaccine to the subject according to the method of any one of embodiments 30-55.
Embodiment 57. The method according to embodiment 56, wherein the disease is a tumor cancer.
Embodiment 58. An injector comprising an igniter and a removable cartridge, wherein the removeable cartridge is configured to contain a vaccine comprising a DNA, RNA or peptide.
Embodiment 59. The injector according to embodiment 58, wherein the injector excludes a needle.
Embodiment 60. The injector according to embodiment 58 or 59, wherein the injector excludes a spring.
Embodiment 61. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-60, wherein the vaccine excludes a nanoparticle.
Embodiment 62. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-61, wherein the vaccine excludes a cationic lipid.
Embodiment 63. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-62, wherein the vaccine excludes a lipid.
Embodiment 64. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-63, wherein the vaccine excludes an adjuvant.
Embodiment 65. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-64, wherein the vaccine excludes a DNA-encoded immunostimulatory gene.
Embodiment 66. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-65, wherein the vaccine excludes a liposome.
Embodiment 67. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-66, wherein the vaccine is non-viral.
Embodiment 68. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-67, wherein the vaccine consists of the neoantigen DNA, mRNA or peptide, and a buffer.
Embodiment 69. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-68, wherein the DNA, mRNA or peptide is a naked nucleic acid molecule.
Embodiment 70. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-69, wherein the DNA, mRNA or peptide is a naked mRNA.
Embodiment 71. The injector according to embodiment 70, wherein an amount of the naked mRNA in the cartridge is at least 0.2 μg.
Embodiment 72. The injector according to any one of embodiments 58-71, wherein the injector is configured for intracellular delivery.
Embodiment 73. Use of the injector according to any one of embodiments 30-55 for administering a personalized vaccine to a subject according to the method of any one of embodiments 30-45.
Embodiment 74. Use of the injector according to any one of embodiments 55-57 for treating or ameliorating a tumor in a subject according to the method of embodiment 46 or 47.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/056251 | 7/6/2022 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63218896 | Jul 2021 | US |
