E![4421], CURAVAX, Vacara AB

Purpose and goal:

The goal of the CURAVAX project is to develop a first-in-class tolerogenic vaccination for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The consortium aims to show proof of concept and develop an optimal treatment protocol for the vaccine AC-001; including the establishment of unique humanised disease models and biomarkers for identification of highly responsive patients and for treatment monitoring.

Expected results and effects:

This tolerogenic vaccine represent a ground breaking approach with significant potential to prevent and cure rheumatoid arthritis. By targeting the disease mechanisms that manifest early in disease development, we aim to restore immunological tolerance to the body’s own structures. After this project, the vaccine will be ready for phase I clinical trial and the biomarkers identified for validation in human samples.

Approach and implementation:

This project has received funding from the Eurostars 3-program as well as from the European Union´s research and innovation program Horizon Europe. The project is conducted in co-operation with Vacara and the consortium members in Germany. Vacara will provide a unique humanized preclinical rheumatoid arthritis model for the project and analyse and validate the biomarkers to gain a better understand of the AC-001’s mechanism of action.