DiaVacs Immunotherapy

DV-200

DV-200 is a microsphere formulation of antisense oligonucleotides against three costimulatory molecules: CD40, CD80 and CD86. DV-200 is engineered for selective uptake by phagocytes like dendritic cells, with limited uptake by other cells. Upon uptake by dendritic cells, DV-200 knocksdown expression of CD40, CD80 and CD86. With limited expression of these costimulatory molecules, dendritic cells are unable to stimulate T effector cells. Rather, these “DC regs” induce T effector cell anergy and promote expansion of regulatory immune cells.

Diavacs has selected the lead indication for DV-200 to be treatment of Type 1 Diabetes patients with residual beta cell function, an orphan indication. Patients with Type 1 Diabetes must take lifelong insulin therapy in order to stave off severe complications including blindness, foot amputations, kidney damage, and nerve damage. Diavacs is studying DV-200’s therapeutic potential in a number of other autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.

DV-200 has been shown to prevent and reverse the onset of Type 1 Diabetes in several animal models (see our publications for details. Diavacs licensed the technology for DV-200 from Baxter and the University of Pittsburgh. Diavacs is completing preclinical studies of DV-200 and plans to initiate clinical studies in 2018.

DV-100

DV-100 utilizes a similar mechanism to DV-200; however, DV-100 delivers antisense oligonucleotides to dendritic cells through ex-vivo modification of dendritic cells. DV-100 has been studied in several animal models of Type 1 Diabetes, and has also been studied in a safety study of ten human patients with established Type 1 Diabetes (for more detail, see our publications).