Nabi describes Altastaph as a polyclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of S. aureus infections in patients at immediate risk for infection or patients with immune systems unable to respond adequately to vaccine. Altastaph is produced by vaccinating healthy volunteers with the company’s StaphVAX vaccine, and then harvesting the anti-staphylococcus antibodies to capsular polysaccharides (protective outer sugar coatings on S. aureus bacteria) from S. aureus types 5 and 8. Nabi reports that these two types account for upwards of 85 % of all S. aureus infections.

The use of specific antibodies for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases is by no means a novel concept. Specific antibodies are used in the prevention of Hepatitis B, Rabies, RSV and in the treatment of Tetanus and Diptheria. A search of the BioHorizon.com Emerging Health Technology Surveillance System database yields two other antibody-based therapies targeted against S. aureus: Aurexis (Phase 2) and Veronate (Phase 3). We have assigned 45 innovation points to Altastaph.

S. aureus infections are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in low birth-weight neonates. Estimates of the incidence of VLBW in the United States are in the 14-15/100, 000 population range corresponding to a burden of illness score of 11. Demand/diffusion scoring is difficult at this stage of development; we have assigned the default score of 10.

Altastaph receives a final BioHorizon Emerging Health Technology Impact Score of 28 placing it in our Low Impact Technology category. No assessment activities are recommended for health services clients at this time.

Technology Details
Target Disease / Indication: Staph. Aureus infections
Technology Classification: Drug
Body System: Multiple Systems
Program Area: Medicine/Infectious Disease
Regulatory Status: Phase 2
BioHorizon Impact Score: 28/100 – Low

rPA is a recombinant, synthetic protein that is postulated to prevent the complications of anthrax infection by inducing antibodies that bind to and neutralize potent anthrax toxins. The only currently available vaccine for anthrax in the United States is AVA, which requires a primary series of three subcutaneous injections given 2 weeks apart, followed by three additional subcutaneous injections given at 6, 12, and 18 months. Annual booster injections of the vaccine are recommended thereafter.

In December 1997, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a plan to vaccinate all U.S. military personnel with AVA. As of April 2000, 425,976 service members had received 1,620,793 doses of anthrax vaccine under the DoD’s Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program. In October/November 2001, approximately 10,000 persons were advised to take 60 days of post exposure prophylaxis because of potential exposure to anthrax in several U.S. states as a result of a bioterror attack. 22 cases of anthrax resulted from this intentional release of Bacillus anthracis.

While data released by VaxGen for rPA102 looks promising, it is very preliminary in nature. Ideally, the next anthrax vaccine would have an improved safety and efficacy profile when compared to AVA as well as the benefit of a simplified dosing schedule. As for the degree of impact of an anthrax vaccine, the ongoing assessments by the U.S. government and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice concerning the potential risk of an anthrax outbreak are critical. Currently, Biohorizon maintains its Moderate Impact Technology designation for rPA102 and recommends no specific assessment activities for this vaccine.

Technology Details
Target Disease / Indication: Anthrax
Technology Classification: Drug/Vaccine
Body System: Multiple Systems
Program Area: Medicine/Infectious Disease
Regulatory Status: Phase II
BioHorizon Impact Score: 48/100 – Moderate