X-Vax: Bucking dogma in HSV vaccine development

Veering from the field’s focus on neutralizing antibodies, X-Vax is developing vaccines that elicit non-neutralizing antibodies that direct the immune system to kill infected cells. Its lead candidate is in preclinical development to prevent HSV infection.

X-Vax Technology Inc. COO Andreas Eggert told BioCentury that HSV vaccine R&D has centered on eliciting neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against glycoprotein D, a protein required for the virus to enter cells. Glycoprotein D also attracts the lion’s share of the immune response...