Dengue fever incidence has grown exponentially over the past 50 years and now causes disease in nearly 100 million people annually. Vaccination offers the most effective method of protecting at-risk individuals. The long immunization schedule (12 months) and partial protection (30-60%) of the latest vaccines set clear milestones for improvement. International travelers and Warfighters being deployed to tropical or subtropical regions require more immediate and more complete immunity. To this end Qrono, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, proposes to computationally optimize and develop a transformational microparticle adjuvant platform (M2) that will generate rapid onset immunity in a new dengue vaccine through molecularly engineered control over antigen uptake and T cell stimulation. The ultimate goal for this new vaccine is to rapidly protect against dengues manifestations (i.e., fever, hemorrhaging and sepsis-like shock) with a single dose. Qronos computational drug delivery technology allows us to rapidly create the formulations that will optimize M2s adjuvant effect. Subsequent studies will continue vaccine development through preclinical efficacy studies in mouse and monkey models before beginning the clinical trials needed for regulatory approval and commercialization.
