Hydroxychloroquine-containing pharmaceutical formulations for vaccine and gene therapy
Nucleic acids are quickly gaining grounds in disease treatment and prevention, for instance as therapeutics in gene therapy and as preventive medicine in vaccines. However, their use is associated with inflammation and other undesired side effects. Our innovation aims to reduce these negative side effects by combining nucleic acids with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or its analogs.
HCQ is a widely used drug with a few side effects. When administered with nucleic acids, it binds to them and reduces their recognition by cellular receptors. Our novel pharmaceutical formulation thus reduces inflammation and minimizes the undesired side effects associated with nucleic acid therapies without compromising their therapeutic efficacy.
OOur approach can be applied to a wide range of nucleic acid-based treatments, including mRNA vaccines and gene therapies, enhancing their safety and improving patient tolerance. The formulation can be added to any type of nucleic acid therapeutics and be administered either as a single mixture or via a combined oral-injection route, providing versatility in therapeutic applications.
Developed by: Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology.
Technology readiness level: TRL4–5.
Status of intellectual property: Patent pending.
Cooperation opportunities: Clinical trial, joint development, or intellectual property licensing.