Pharmaceutical composition comprising an antigen

Abstract

The inventions discloses a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antigen, an immunostimulating substance selected from neuroactive compounds, hormones, compounds having a growth hormone activity, and mixtures thereof, and a polycationic polymer.

1 . Pharmaceutical composition comprising 
 an antigen,    an immunostimulating substance selected from neuroactive compounds, hormones, compounds having a growth hormone activity, and mixtures thereof, and    a polycationic polymer.    
     
     
         2 . Composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the antigen is a protein derived from a viral, parasitic or bacterial pathogen.  
     
     
         3 . Composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the antigen is a tumor antigen.  
     
     
         4 . Composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the antigen is an autoimmune antigen.  
     
     
         5 . Composition according to any one of the  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the polycationic compound is a basic polypeptide, an organic polycation, a basic polyaminoacid or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . Composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that the polycationic compound is polylysine, polyarginine, a polypeptide containing more than 50% of basic amino acids in a range of more than 8, especially more than 20, amino acid residues or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . Composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the polycationic compound is derived from the REV-protein or the TAT-protein of HIV, chitosan or other chitin derivatives.  
     
     
         8 . Composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that the neuroactive compounds are selected from growth hormones, especially human growth hormone, neuro-kinin A, vasoactive intestinal peptide, neuropeptide Y, substance P, Thyrotrophin (TSH), Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), prolactin, lactogen, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Thymosin, Thymulin, Kentsin, melatonin, semaphorins.  
     
     
         9 . Vaccine, comprising a composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 .  
     
     
         10 . Use of a composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  8  for manufacturing a vaccine.  
     
     
         11 . Kit comprising 
 a component containing an immunostimulating substance selected from neuroactive compounds, hormones, compounds having a growth hormone activity, and mixtures thereof, and    a component containing a polycationic polymer and an antigen.    
     
     
         12 . Vaccine, comprising a HCV antigen selected from the group of consisting of Core 23-44 (KFPGGGQIVGGVYLLPRRGPRL), CORE 131-150 (ADLMGYIPLVGAPLGGAARA), CORE 132-140 (DLMGYIPAV), NS3 1073-1081 (CINGVCWTV), NS3 1207-1226 (SPVFTDNSSPPAVPQSFQVA), NS3 1248-1261 (GYKVLVLNPSVAAT), NS3 1585-1604 (YLVAYQATVCARAQAPPPSW), NS4 1655-1675 (WTSTWVLVGGVLAALAAYCL), NS4 1765-1784 (MWNFISGIQYLAGLSTLPGN), NS4 1909-1929 (GEGAVQWMNRLIAFASRGNHV), NS4 1785-1804 (PAIASLMAFTAAVTSPLTTG), NS4 1787-1799 (IASLMAFTAAVTS), NS4 1805-1824 (QTLLFNILGGWVAAQLAAPG) NS4 1809-1821 (FNILGGWVAAQLA), and CD4- and CD8-epitopes with at least 6, preferably 8 to 10, amino acid long fragments of said antigens or strain variants of said antigens and a polycationic polymer.  
     
     
         13 . Vaccine according to  claim 12 , wherein the fragments are selected from Core 31-40, Core 35-44, Core 132-140, NS3 1585-1593, NS3 1585-1594, NS4 1666-1675, NS4 1769-1777, NS4 1773-1783, NS4 1787-1795, NS4 1789-1797, NS4 1789-1798, NS4 1807-1816, NS4 1809-1817 und NS4 1811-1820.  
     
     
         14 . Vaccine according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the polycationic polymer is a basic polypeptide, preferably a polyamino acid, especially polyarginine.  
     
     
         15 . Vaccine according to any of  claims 12  to  14  further comprising an immunostimulating substance selected from neuroactive compounds, hormones, compounds having a growth hormone activity and mixtures thereof.