Therapeutics: Lipoteichoic acid (LTA); heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF; DTR)

Mouse studies suggest LTA glycan-based vaccines could help prevent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). In a mouse challenge model of CDI, a compound composed of glycans from C. difficile LTA conjugated to the immunogenicity-enhancing carrier protein HBEGF increased serum levels of LTA glycan-specific IgGs and decreased intestinal colonization of C. difficile compared with no treatment. Next steps include testing additional C. difficile glycans as vaccine antigens in the mouse model.

Sanofi has ACAM-CDIFF, a toxoid vaccine targeting toxins generated by C. difficile, in Phase III testing for CDI...