Robert Humphreys, chief scientific officer of Generex' Antigen Express immunomedicines subsidiary, presented the new data at the Foundation Merieux Conference in Annecy, France.
Using the RapidMist device, the Antigen Express researchers were able to deliver two peptide vaccines against cancer and HIV to animals via the buccal delivery method and stimulate an immune response.
The RapidMist system looks just like a regular inhaler but delivers aerosolised formulations of peptides or proteins using a pressurised fluorocarbon carrier. It is needle-free and has already been validated with insulin, with studies showing that the system can achieve therapeutic plasma levels within 20 minutes of dosing.
This latest study lends weight to Generex' claims that the device can be used for repeated, low-dose administration of immunomodulatory peptides, which could be used in the treatment of asthma and some autoimmune diseases. Control of such diseases might require frequent, low-dose administration of immunomodulatory peptides, which shut off pathological immune responses of the disease.