Will the route of administration affect the reponse of vaccine if mucosal immunity is different from peripheral immunity?
We have no reason to believe that immune responses are grossly different through different routes, though one of the key scientific dilemmas is to induce mucosal protection. At present, we are looking at assessing the response in peripheral circulation. We would test whether the vaccine can induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. We want to see whether the person who is administered the vaccine develops good CTL response. Are there only a few vaccine candidates in the global pipeline? No. Nearly 100 different vaccine candidates based on more than half a dozen concepts are being investigated. They differ in the type of immunity generated, vector used, genes inserted, etc. To get into Phase I involves lot of preparation. There are many candidates in phase one, few in Phase II and only 2 in phase III. But it may take nearly 8 to 10 years from the scientific concept to reach and complete Phase III. Can you tell us about the development on the vaginal microbicide Pranim? The scientifi
