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Sussman C, Liberatore RA, Drozdz MM. Delivery of DNA-Based Therapeutics for Treatment of Chronic Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:535. [PMID: 38675196 PMCID: PMC11053842 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy and its role in the medical field have evolved drastically in recent decades. Studies aim to define DNA-based medicine as well as encourage innovation and the further development of novel approaches. Gene therapy has been established as an alternative approach to treat a variety of diseases. Its range of mechanistic applicability is wide; gene therapy has the capacity to address the symptoms of disease, the body's ability to fight disease, and in some cases has the ability to cure disease, making it a more attractive intervention than some traditional approaches to treatment (i.e., medicine and surgery). Such versatility also suggests gene therapy has the potential to address a greater number of indications than conventional treatments. Many DNA-based therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, and several have been approved for use in humans. Whereas current treatment regimens for chronic disease often require frequent dosing, DNA-based therapies can produce robust and durable expression of therapeutic genes with fewer treatments. This benefit encourages the application of DNA-based gene therapy to manage chronic diseases, an area where improving efficiency of current treatments is urgent. Here, we provide an overview of two DNA-based gene therapies as well as their delivery methods: adeno associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy and plasmid DNA (pDNA)-based gene therapy. We will focus on how these therapies have already been utilized to improve treatment of chronic disease, as well as how current literature supports the expansion of these therapies to treat additional chronic indications in the future.
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2
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Kranjc M, Polajžer T, Novickij V, Miklavčič D. Determination of the Impact of High-Intensity Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on the Release of Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14607. [PMID: 37834054 PMCID: PMC10572873 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
High-Intensity Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (HI-PEMF) treatment is an emerging noninvasive and contactless alternative to conventional electroporation, since the electric field inside the tissue is induced remotely by an externally applied pulsed magnetic field. Recently, HI-PEMF has been successfully used in the transfer of plasmid DNA and siRNA in vivo, with no or minimal infiltration of immune cells. In addition to gene electrotransfer, treatment with HI-PEMF has also shown potential for electrochemotherapy, where activation of the immune response contributes to the treatment outcome. The immune response can be triggered by immunogenic cell death that is characterized by the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from damaged or/and dying cells. In this study, the release of the best-known DAMP molecules, i.e., adenosine triphosphate (ATP), calreticulin and high mobility group box 1 protein (HMBG1), after HI-PEMF treatment was investigated in vitro on three different cell lines of different tissue origin and compared with conventional electroporation treatment parameters. We have shown that HI-PEMF by itself does not cause the release of HMGB1 or calreticulin, whereas the release of ATP was detected immediately after HI-PEMF treatment. Our results indicate that HI-PEMF treatment causes no to minimal release of DAMP molecules, which results in minimal/limited activation of the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Kranjc
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Tamara Polajžer
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Institute of High Magnetic Fields, Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės g. 27, 10105 Vilnius, Lithuania;
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariskiu g. 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Damijan Miklavčič
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.K.); (T.P.)
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3
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Chung C, Kudchodkar SB, Chung CN, Park YK, Xu Z, Pardi N, Abdel-Mohsen M, Muthumani K. Expanding the Reach of Monoclonal Antibodies: A Review of Synthetic Nucleic Acid Delivery in Immunotherapy. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:46. [PMID: 37489368 PMCID: PMC10366852 DOI: 10.3390/antib12030046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Harnessing the immune system to combat disease has revolutionized medical treatment. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), in particular, have emerged as important immunotherapeutic agents with clinical relevance in treating a wide range of diseases, including allergies, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases. These mAbs are developed from naturally occurring antibodies and target specific epitopes of single molecules, minimizing off-target effects. Antibodies can also be designed to target particular pathogens or modulate immune function by activating or suppressing certain pathways. Despite their benefit for patients, the production and administration of monoclonal antibody therapeutics are laborious, costly, and time-consuming. Administration often requires inpatient stays and repeated dosing to maintain therapeutic levels, limiting their use in underserved populations and developing countries. Researchers are developing alternate methods to deliver monoclonal antibodies, including synthetic nucleic acid-based delivery, to overcome these limitations. These methods allow for in vivo production of monoclonal antibodies, which would significantly reduce costs and simplify administration logistics. This review explores new methods for monoclonal antibody delivery, including synthetic nucleic acids, and their potential to increase the accessibility and utility of life-saving treatments for several diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Curtis N Chung
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 04500, Republic of Korea
| | - Young K Park
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 04500, Republic of Korea
| | - Ziyang Xu
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Norbert Pardi
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Kar Muthumani
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 04500, Republic of Korea
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4
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Cuypers ML, Geukens N, Hollevoet K, Declerck P, Dewilde M. Exploring the Fate of Antibody-Encoding pDNA after Intramuscular Electroporation in Mice. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041160. [PMID: 37111645 PMCID: PMC10146361 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA-based antibody therapy seeks to administer the encoding nucleotide sequence rather than the antibody protein. To further improve the in vivo monoclonal antibody (mAb) expression, a better understanding of what happens after the administration of the encoding plasmid DNA (pDNA) is required. This study reports the quantitative evaluation and localization of the administered pDNA over time and its association with corresponding mRNA levels and systemic protein concentrations. pDNA encoding the murine anti-HER2 4D5 mAb was administered to BALB/c mice via intramuscular injection followed by electroporation. Muscle biopsies and blood samples were taken at different time points (up to 3 months). In muscle, pDNA levels decreased 90% between 24 h and one week post treatment (p < 0.0001). In contrast, mRNA levels remained stable over time. The 4D5 antibody plasma concentrations reached peak levels at week two followed by a slow decrease (50% after 12 weeks, p < 0.0001). Evaluation of pDNA localization revealed that extranuclear pDNA was cleared fast, whereas the nuclear fraction remained relatively stable. This is in line with the observed mRNA and protein levels over time and indicates that only a minor fraction of the administered pDNA is ultimately responsible for the observed systemic mAb levels. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that durable expression is dependent on the nuclear uptake of the pDNA. Therefore, efforts to increase the protein levels upon pDNA-based gene therapy should focus on strategies to increase both cellular entry and migration of the pDNA into the nucleus. The currently applied methodology can be used to guide the design and evaluation of novel plasmid-based vectors or alternative delivery methods in order to achieve a robust and prolonged protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Lynn Cuypers
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 Box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nick Geukens
- PharmAbs-The KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 Box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kevin Hollevoet
- PharmAbs-The KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 Box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Declerck
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 Box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- PharmAbs-The KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 Box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Dewilde
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 Box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- PharmAbs-The KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, O&N II Herestraat 49 Box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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5
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Leading Edge: Intratumor Delivery of Monoclonal Antibodies for the Treatment of Solid Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032676. [PMID: 36768997 PMCID: PMC9917067 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies based on immune checkpoint blockade have shown remarkable clinical outcomes and durable responses in patients with many tumor types. Nevertheless, these therapies lack efficacy in most cancer patients, even causing severe adverse events in a small subset of patients, such as inflammatory disorders and hyper-progressive disease. To diminish the risk of developing serious toxicities, intratumor delivery of monoclonal antibodies could be a solution. Encouraging results have been shown in both preclinical and clinical studies. Thus, intratumor immunotherapy as a new strategy may retain efficacy while increasing safety. This approach is still an exploratory frontier in cancer research and opens up new possibilities for next-generation personalized medicine. Local intratumor delivery can be achieved through many means, but an attractive approach is the use of gene therapy vectors expressing mAbs inside the tumor mass. Here, we summarize basic, translational, and clinical results of intratumor mAb delivery, together with descriptions of non-viral and viral strategies for mAb delivery in preclinical and clinical development. Currently, this is an expanding research subject that will surely play a key role in the future of oncology.
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6
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Hollevoet K, Thomas D, Compernolle G, Vermeire G, De Smidt E, De Vleeschauwer S, Smith TRF, Fisher PD, Dewilde M, Geukens N, Declerck P. Clinically relevant dosing and pharmacokinetics of DNA-encoded antibody therapeutics in a sheep model. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1017612. [PMID: 36263202 PMCID: PMC9574358 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1017612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA-encoded delivery and in vivo expression of antibody therapeutics presents an innovative alternative to conventional protein production and administration, including for cancer treatment. To support clinical translation, we evaluated this approach in 18 40-45 kg sheep, using a clinical-matched intramuscular electroporation (IM EP) and hyaluronidase-plasmid DNA (pDNA) coformulation setup. Two cohorts of eight sheep received either 1 or 4 mg pDNA encoding an ovine anti-cancer embryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibody (mAb; OVAC). Results showed a dose-response with average maximum serum concentrations of respectively 0.3 and 0.7 µg/ml OVAC, 4-6 weeks after IM EP. OVAC was detected in all 16 sheep throughout the 6-week follow-up, and no anti-OVAC antibodies were observed. Another, more exploratory, cohort of two sheep received a 12 mg pOVAC dose. Both animals displayed a similar dose-dependent mAb increase and expression profile in the first two weeks. However, in one animal, an anti-OVAC antibody response led to loss of mAb detection four weeks after IM EP. In the other animal, no anti-drug antibodies were observed. Serum OVAC concentrations peaked at 4.9 µg/ml 6 weeks after IM EP, after which levels gradually decreased but remained detectable around 0.2 to 0.3 µg/ml throughout a 13-month follow-up. In conclusion, using a delivery protocol that is currently employed in clinical Phase 1 studies of DNA-based antibodies, we achieved robust and prolonged in vivo production of anti-cancer DNA-encoded antibody therapeutics in sheep. The learnings from this large-animal model regarding the impact of pDNA dose and host immune response on the expressed mAb pharmacokinetics can contribute to advancing clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Hollevoet
- PharmAbs, The KU Leuven Antibody Center – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Kevin Hollevoet,
| | - Debby Thomas
- PharmAbs, The KU Leuven Antibody Center – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Griet Compernolle
- PharmAbs, The KU Leuven Antibody Center – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Giles Vermeire
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elien De Smidt
- PharmAbs, The KU Leuven Antibody Center – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Maarten Dewilde
- PharmAbs, The KU Leuven Antibody Center – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nick Geukens
- PharmAbs, The KU Leuven Antibody Center – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Declerck
- PharmAbs, The KU Leuven Antibody Center – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Imbrechts M, Maes W, Ampofo L, Van den Berghe N, Calcoen B, Van Looveren D, Kerstens W, Rasulova M, Vercruysse T, Noppen S, Abdelnabi R, Foo C, Hollevoet K, Maes P, Zhang X, Jochmans D, Ven K, Lammertyn J, Vanhoorelbeke K, Callewaert N, De Munter P, Schols D, Thibaut HJ, Neyts J, Declerck P, Geukens N. Potent neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 human antibodies cure infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamster model. iScience 2022; 25:104705. [PMID: 35813873 PMCID: PMC9250818 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contributes to COVID-19 management. Unfortunately, SARS-CoV-2 variants escape several of these recently approved mAbs, highlighting the need for additional discovery and development. In a convalescent patient with COVID-19, we identified six mAbs, classified in four epitope groups, that potently neutralized SARS-CoV-2 D614G, beta, gamma, and delta infection in vitro, with three mAbs neutralizing omicron as well. In hamsters, mAbs 3E6 and 3B8 potently cured infection with SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan, beta, and delta when administered post-viral infection at 5 mg/kg. Even at 0.2 mg/kg, 3B8 still reduced viral titers. Intramuscular delivery of DNA-encoded 3B8 resulted in in vivo mAb production of median serum levels up to 90 μg/mL, and protected hamsters against delta infection. Overall, our data mark 3B8 as a promising candidate against COVID-19, and highlight advances in both the identification and gene-based delivery of potent human mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Imbrechts
- KU Leuven, PharmAbs: the KU Leuven Antibody Center, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Maes
- KU Leuven, PharmAbs: the KU Leuven Antibody Center, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Campus Kortrijk, IRF Life Sciences, Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Louanne Ampofo
- KU Leuven, PharmAbs: the KU Leuven Antibody Center, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Van den Berghe
- KU Leuven, Department Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bas Calcoen
- KU Leuven Campus Kortrijk, IRF Life Sciences, Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Van Looveren
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Winnie Kerstens
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Madina Rasulova
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Vercruysse
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam Noppen
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rana Abdelnabi
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- GVN, Global Virus Network
| | - Caroline Foo
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- GVN, Global Virus Network
| | - Kevin Hollevoet
- KU Leuven, PharmAbs: the KU Leuven Antibody Center, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Maes
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- GVN, Global Virus Network
| | - Xin Zhang
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- GVN, Global Virus Network
| | - Dirk Jochmans
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- GVN, Global Virus Network
| | - Karen Ven
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Lammertyn
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karen Vanhoorelbeke
- KU Leuven, PharmAbs: the KU Leuven Antibody Center, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Campus Kortrijk, IRF Life Sciences, Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- AZ Groeninge Hospital Clinical Laboratory, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Paul De Munter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory for Clinical Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Schols
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Jan Thibaut
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- GVN, Global Virus Network
| | - Paul Declerck
- KU Leuven, PharmAbs: the KU Leuven Antibody Center, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nick Geukens
- KU Leuven, PharmAbs: the KU Leuven Antibody Center, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, MabMine: KU Leuven Single B Cell Mining Platform, Herestraat 49 box 820, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Jacobs L, Yshii L, Junius S, Geukens N, Liston A, Hollevoet K, Declerck P. Intratumoral DNA-based delivery of checkpoint-inhibiting antibodies and interleukin 12 triggers T cell infiltration and anti-tumor response. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:984-992. [PMID: 34754076 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00403-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
To improve the anti-tumor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, numerous combination therapies are under clinical evaluation, including with IL-12 gene therapy. The current study evaluated the simultaneous delivery of the cytokine and checkpoint-inhibiting antibodies by intratumoral DNA electroporation in mice. In the MC38 tumor model, combined administration of plasmids encoding IL-12 and an anti-PD-1 antibody induced significant anti-tumor responses, yet similar to the monotherapies. When treatment was expanded with a DNA-based anti-CTLA-4 antibody, this triple combination significantly delayed tumor growth compared to IL-12 alone and the combination of anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. Despite low drug plasma concentrations, the triple combination enabled significant abscopal effects in contralateral tumors, which was not the case for the other treatments. The DNA-based immunotherapies increased T cell infiltration in electroporated tumors, especially of CD8+ T cells, and upregulated the expression of CD8+ effector markers. No general immune activation was detected in spleens following either intratumoral treatment. In B16F10 tumors, evaluation of the triple combination was hampered by a high sensitivity to control plasmids. In conclusion, intratumoral gene electrotransfer allowed effective combined delivery of multiple immunotherapeutics. This approach induced responses in treated and contralateral tumors, while limiting systemic drug exposure and potentially detrimental systemic immunological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesl Jacobs
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lidia Yshii
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steffie Junius
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nick Geukens
- PharmAbs - the KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Liston
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Immunology Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Hollevoet
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. .,PharmAbs - the KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Paul Declerck
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. .,PharmAbs - the KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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9
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Pagant S, Liberatore RA. In Vivo Electroporation of Plasmid DNA: A Promising Strategy for Rapid, Inexpensive, and Flexible Delivery of Anti-Viral Monoclonal Antibodies. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1882. [PMID: 34834297 PMCID: PMC8618954 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the first approval of monoclonal antibodies by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986, therapeutic antibodies have become one of the predominant classes of drugs in oncology and immunology. Despite their natural function in contributing to antiviral immunity, antibodies as drugs have only more recently been thought of as tools for combating infectious diseases. Passive immunization, or the delivery of the products of an immune response, offers near-immediate protection, unlike the active immune processes triggered by traditional vaccines, which rely on the time it takes for the host's immune system to develop an effective defense. This rapid onset of protection is particularly well suited to containing outbreaks of emerging viral diseases. Despite these positive attributes, the high cost associated with antibody manufacture and the need for a cold chain for storage and transport limit their deployment on a global scale, especially in areas with limited resources. The in vivo transfer of nucleic acid-based technologies encoding optimized therapeutic antibodies transform the body into a bioreactor for rapid and sustained production of biologics and hold great promise for circumventing the obstacles faced by the traditional delivery of antibodies. In this review, we provide an overview of the different antibody delivery strategies that are currently being developed, with particular emphasis on in vivo transfection of naked plasmid DNA facilitated by electroporation.
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10
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Vermeire G, De Smidt E, Geukens N, Williams JA, Declerck P, Hollevoet K. Improved Potency and Safety of DNA-Encoded Antibody Therapeutics Through Plasmid Backbone and Expression Cassette Engineering. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1200-1209. [PMID: 34482757 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA-encoded delivery of antibodies presents a labor- and cost-effective alternative to conventional antibody therapeutics. This study aims to improve the potency and safety of this approach by evaluating various plasmid backbones and expression cassettes. In vitro, antibody levels consistently improved with decreasing sizes of backbone, ranging from conventional to minimal. In vivo, following intramuscular electrotransfer in mice, the correlation was less consistent. While the largest conventional plasmid (10.2 kb) gave the lowest monoclonal antibody (mAb) levels, a regular conventional plasmid (8.6 kb) demonstrated similar levels as a minimal Nanoplasmid (6.8 kb). A reduction in size beyond a standard conventional backbone thus did not improve mAb levels in vivo. Cassette modifications, such as swapping antibody chain order or use of two versus a single encoding plasmid, significantly increased antibody expression in vitro, but failed to translate in vivo. Conversely, a significant improvement in vivo but not in vitro was found with a set of muscle-specific promoters, of which a newly engineered variant gave roughly 1.5- to 2-fold higher plasma antibody concentrations than the ubiquitous CAG promoter. In conclusion, despite the limited translation between in vitro and in vivo, we identified various clinically relevant improvements to our DNA-based antibody platform, both in potency and biosafety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giles Vermeire
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elien De Smidt
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,PharmAbs, the KU Leuven Antibody Center-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nick Geukens
- PharmAbs, the KU Leuven Antibody Center-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Paul Declerck
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,PharmAbs, the KU Leuven Antibody Center-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kevin Hollevoet
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,PharmAbs, the KU Leuven Antibody Center-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Schultheis K, Pugh HM, Oh J, Nguyen J, Yung B, Reed C, Cooch N, Chen J, Yan J, Muthumani K, Humeau LM, Weiner DB, Broderick KE, Smith TRF. Active immunoprophylaxis with a synthetic DNA-encoded monoclonal anti-respiratory syncytial virus scFv-Fc fusion protein confers protection against infection and durable activity. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 16:2165-2175. [PMID: 32544376 PMCID: PMC7553682 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1748979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) is a major threat to many vulnerable populations. There are currently no approved vaccines, and RSV remains a high unmet global medical need. Here we describe the employment of a novel synthetic DNA-encoded antibody technology platform to develop and deliver an engineered human DNA-encoded monoclonal antibody (dMAbTM) targeting the fusion protein (F) of RSV as a new approach to prevention or therapy of at risk populations. In in vivo models, a single administration of synthetic DNA-encoding the single-chain fragment variable-constant fragment (scFv-Fc) RSV-F dMAb resulted in robust and durable circulating levels of a functional antibody systemically and in mucosal tissue. In cotton rats, which are the gold-standard animals to model RSV infection, we observed sustained scFv-Fc RSV-F dMAb in the sera and lung-lavage samples, demonstrating the potential for both long-lasting immunity to RSV and effective biodistribution. The scFv-Fc RSV-F dMAb harbored in the sera exhibited RSV antigen-specific binding and potent viral neutralizing activity. Importantly, in vivo delivery of synthetic DNA-encoding, the scFv-Fc RSV-F dMAb protected animals against viral challenge. Our findings support the significance of dMAbs as a potential platform technology for durable protection against RSV disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holly M Pugh
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals , Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Janet Oh
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals , Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | | | - Bryan Yung
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals , Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Charles Reed
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals , Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Neil Cooch
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals , Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Jing Chen
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals , Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Jian Yan
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals , Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA
| | - Kar Muthumani
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - David B Weiner
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute , Philadelphia, PA, USA
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12
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DNA-based delivery of anti-DR5 Nanobodies improves exposure and anti-tumor efficacy over protein-based administration. Cancer Gene Ther 2020; 28:828-838. [PMID: 32733055 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-0204-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Nanobodies present an appealing class of potential cancer therapeutics. The current study explores the in vivo expression of these molecules through DNA-encoded delivery. We hypothesized that this approach could address the rapid clearance of Nanobodies and, through half-life modulation, increase the produced levels in circulation. We therefore evaluated pharmacokinetics and efficacy of variants of an anti-death receptor 5 Nanobody (NbDR5), either monovalent or multivalent with half-life extension properties, after DNA-based administration. Intramuscular electrotransfer of a monovalent NbDR5-encoding plasmid (pNbDR5) did not result in detectable plasma levels in BALB/c mice. A tetravalent NbDR5-encoding plasmid (pNbDR54) provided peak concentrations of 54 ng/mL, which remained above 24 ng/mL during a 12-week follow-up. DNA-based delivery of these Nanobody formats fused to a Nanobody binding to serum albumin (NbSA), pNbDR5-NbSA and pNbDR54-NbSA, resulted in significantly higher plasma levels, with peak titers of 5.2 and 7.7 µg/mL, respectively. In an athymic-nude mice COLO 205 colon-cancer model, a quadrupled intramuscular DNA dose led to peak plasma levels of 270 ng/mL for pNbDR54 and 38 µg/mL for pNbDR54-NbSA. Potent anti-tumor responses were only observed for pNbDR54, following either intramuscular or intratumoral delivery. Despite comparable in vitro activity and superior plasma exposure, NbDR54-NbSA was less effective than NbDR54 in vivo, regardless of whether delivered as DNA or protein. Overall, DNA-based Nanobody delivery resulted in more potent and durable anti-tumor responses than protein-based Nanobody delivery. In conclusion, this study demonstrates pre-clinical proof of concept for DNA-based Nanobodies in oncology and highlights the improved outcome over conventional protein administration.
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13
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Andrews CD, Huang Y, Ho DD, Liberatore RA. In vivo expressed biologics for infectious disease prophylaxis: rapid delivery of DNA-based antiviral antibodies. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:1523-1533. [PMID: 32579067 PMCID: PMC7473320 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1787108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
With increasing frequency, humans are facing outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) with the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. In the most extreme instances, such outbreaks can become pandemics, as we are now witnessing with COVID-19. According to the World Health Organization, this new disease, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has already infected more than 10 million people worldwide and led to 499,913 deaths as of 29 June, 2020. How high these numbers will eventually go depends on many factors, including policies on travel and movement, availability of medical support, and, because there is no vaccine or highly effective treatment, the pace of biomedical research. Other than an approved antiviral drug that can be repurposed, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) hold the most promise for providing a stopgap measure to lessen the impact of an outbreak while vaccines are in development. Technical advances in mAb identification, combined with the flexibility and clinical experience of mAbs in general, make them ideal candidates for rapid deployment. Furthermore, the development of mAb cocktails can provide a faster route to developing a robust medical intervention than searching for a single, outstanding mAb. In addition, mAbs are well-suited for integration into platform technologies for delivery, in which minimal components need to be changed in order to be redirected against a novel pathogen. In particular, utilizing the manufacturing and logistical benefits of DNA-based platform technologies in order to deliver one or more antiviral mAbs has the potential to revolutionize EID responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yaoxing Huang
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY, USA.,Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicans and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - David D Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, NY, USA.,Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicans and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Jacobs L, De Smidt E, Geukens N, Declerck P, Hollevoet K. DNA-Based Delivery of Checkpoint Inhibitors in Muscle and Tumor Enables Long-Term Responses with Distinct Exposure. Mol Ther 2020; 28:1068-1077. [PMID: 32101701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint-inhibiting antibodies elicit impressive clinical responses, but still face several issues. The current study evaluated whether DNA-based delivery can broaden the application of checkpoint inhibitors, specifically by pursuing cost-efficient in vivo production, facilitating combination therapies, and exploring administration routes that lower immune-related toxicity risks. We therefore optimized plasmid-encoded anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, and studied their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics when delivered alone and in combination via intramuscular or intratumoral electroporation in mice. Intramuscular electrotransfer of these DNA-based antibodies induced complete regressions in a subcutaneous MC38 tumor model, with plasma concentrations up to 4 and 14 μg/mL for anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, respectively, and antibody detection for at least 6 months. Intratumoral antibody gene electrotransfer gave similar anti-tumor responses as the intramuscular approach. Antibody plasma levels, however, were up to 70-fold lower and substantially more transient, potentially improving biosafety of the expressed checkpoint inhibitors. Intratumoral delivery also generated a systemic anti-tumor response, illustrated by moderate abscopal effects and prolonged protection of cured mice against a tumor rechallenge. In conclusion, intramuscular and intratumoral DNA-based delivery of checkpoint inhibitors both enabled long-term anti-tumor responses despite distinct systemic antibody exposure, highlighting the potential of the tumor as delivery site for DNA-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesl Jacobs
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elien De Smidt
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; PharmAbs - The KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nick Geukens
- PharmAbs - The KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Declerck
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; PharmAbs - The KU Leuven Antibody Center, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Kevin Hollevoet
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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15
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Abstract
Antibody immunotherapy is revolutionizing modern medicine. The field has advanced dramatically over the past 40 years, driven in part by major advances in isolation and manufacturing technologies that have brought these important biologics to the forefront of modern medicine. However, the global uptake of monoclonal antibody (mAb) biologics is impeded by biophysical and biochemical liabilities, production limitations, the need for cold-chain storage and transport, as well as high costs of manufacturing and distribution. Some of these hurdles may be overcome through transient in vivo gene delivery platforms, such as non-viral synthetic plasmid DNA and messenger RNA vectors that are engineered to encode optimized mAb genes. These approaches turn the body into a biological factory for antibody production, eliminating many of the steps involved in bioprocesses and providing several other significant advantages, and differ from traditional gene therapy (permanent delivery) approaches. In this review, we focus on nucleic acid delivery of antibody employing synthetic plasmid DNA vector platforms, and RNA delivery, these being important approaches that are advancing simple, rapid, in vivo expression and having an impact in animal models of infectious diseases and cancer, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Patel
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mamadou A Bah
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - David B Weiner
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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