Side effects of anti-angiogenic drugs have raised concerns because of the important role that the VEGF/VEGFR2 system plays in the maintenance of the functionality of the fenestrated endothelium lining several organs [32], [33] and [34].

Recent unpublished results of our group have shown that the amounts of anti-VEGF antibodies raised in monkeys by CIGB-247 are several orders of magnitude AUY922 lower that the concentration of bevacizumab reported in monkey pharmacokinetic studies [36]. This could be an important element in the prevention of many side effects. CIGB-247 administration led to no clinical, histological, or blood biochemistry alterations in any of the tested species. Also, in rats and monkey deep skin wounds, immunization with CIGB-247 did not alter normal healing, where VEGF-A is required for

blood vessel proliferation [35]. Clinical evidences on the side effects of bevacizumab suggest that the antibody accumulation in platelets impairs VEGF mediated endothelial cells recruitment to injury areas [37]. Our finding that in rats we had no anti-VEGF antibodies in platelets see more could be at the basis of why vaccination in this specie produced no impairment of skin deep wound healing. All these evidences indicate that experimental immunization with CIGB-247 is safe. Another characteristic of our vaccine potentially related to its safety profile is the finding that anti-VEGF titers in animals immunized with CIGB-247 Astemizole decline fast, and need further vaccination to be restored or augmented, in this way making it feasible to prevent any undesired

persistence of anti-VEGF antibodies by simply avoiding new immunizations. Our vaccine differs substantially from anti-angiogenic drugs and anti-VEGF therapeutic antibodies. It combines the development of anti-VEGF-neutralizing antibodies with a CTL response important for the final anti-tumor effect. This combination makes our preparation a cancer vaccine and not an alternative procedure that mimics the infusion of anti-VEGF therapeutic antibodies. This work was supported by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, and Biorec. “
“During annual influenza epidemics, 5–15% of the population is affected with upper respiratory tract infections. Hospitalization and deaths although occurring mainly in high-risk groups (elderly, chronically ill, infant), result in three to five million cases of severe illness and between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths every year around the world [1]. Influenza infects 10–25% of Canadians each year. While the majority who become sick will recover, influenza results in an average of 20,000 hospitalizations and 4000 deaths in Canada each year [2].