DOR BioPharma, Inc. is developing a non-injectable ricin toxin vaccine candidate using a genetically detoxified mutant of ricin A chain as the vaccine antigen and is preparing to enter into GMP manufacturing of clinical batches of vaccine. Intranasal or oral administration is contemplated.
Inhaled ricin causes rapid lung damage that is irreversible and leads to death. There is no antidote to ricin following exposure, and no vaccine has been developed or licensed. Vaccine candidates based on inactivated ricin toxin have been tested experimentally, and recently researchers at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) successfully tested a prototype in DOR BioPharma's MicroVax system that showed protection in animals after intranasal or oral vaccination (Kende et al. 2002. Vaccine. 20:1681-91).
The company is currently collaborating with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to develop the MicroVax technology with a safe, completely detoxified version of ricin A chain which is considered the best option for further development. The vaccine antigen candidate has been recently described in the journal Vaccine (Smallshaw et al. 2002. Vaccine. 20:3422-27). This study and two related papers are available for review and downloading at http://www.redingtoninc.com/ricinpapers/ricinpapers.html.
DOR BioPharma, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company specializing in the oral delivery of approved chemical entities and synthetic (non-live) mucosally-administered vaccines that may conveniently and rapidly confer mucosal immunity (such as in the lungs) against, potentially, the entire spectrum of identified bioterrorism threats while completely avoiding the risks associated with vaccines that contain live replication competent pathogens or genetic material. The company's lead product, orBec (oral beclomethasone dipropionate), is currently in a pivotal Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of intestinal graft vs. host disease, and the company is currently testing orBec's usefulness in treating a large percentage of persons diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disease that affects approximately 35 million persons in the U.S. alone.
Source: DOR BioPharma, Inc.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.