Altamira Therapeutics announces publication on peptide-based delivery platform

Altamira Therapeutics announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Integrative Medicine titled, “Melittin analog p5RHH enhances recombinant adeno-associated virus transduction efficiency”. This work evaluates the use of various peptides to enhance adeno-associated virus cell transduction and was conducted by an independent research group.1 Recombinant AAVs are commonly used as carriers to introduce nucleic acids in cells for gene therapy; several AAV-based gene therapy drugs have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The study sought to find ways of increasing the endosomal release of AAV-based therapeutics by using peptides derived from melittin, a component of bee venom known for its ability to permeabilize biological membranes. The research group evaluated 76 melittin derivatives, including p5RHH, the peptide underlying Altamira’s OligoPhore/ SemaPhore nanoparticle platform for RNA delivery. The scientists discovered that insertion of p5RHH into the AAV vector not only enhanced cell transduction, but also succeeded in transducing cell lines typically considered resistant to AAVs. Further, an in vivo study in mice showed that the addition of p5RHH to the AAV capsid of several AAV serotypes significantly enhanced liver transduction compared to non-modified AAV vectors, observed up to the last time point four weeks after systemic administration.