Innovative Therapeutic Vaccine Targets HPV-Related Diseases

Researchers at Imunotera Soluções Terapêuticas, a São Paulo-based startup incubated at Eretz.bio and supported by FAPESP, have developed a promising new therapeutic vaccine aimed at combatting diseases caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), including cervical cancer. This groundbreaking vaccine is based on a recombinant protein called Terah-7, which has demonstrated the ability to stimulate the immune system effectively.

The development of this vaccine involved extensive laboratory testing, including in vitro experiments with both animal and human cells, as well as in vivo studies in experimental animals. These studies revealed that the molecule can induce tumor regression, prevent disease recurrence, and impede metastasis associated with HPV.

A key finding is the molecule’s capacity to activate the immune response in human cells and regress tumors in animal models. Notably, the vaccine has shown synergistic effects when combined with standard chemotherapy treatments for cervical cancer, suggesting its potential to enhance existing therapies.

The molecule was initially discovered during the Ph.D. and postdoctoral research of the project’s lead researcher, Luana Raposo de Melo Moraes Aps, at the University of São Paulo’s Biomedical Sciences Institute. Over several years, the molecule underwent improvements to optimize its efficacy and yields. Currently, the team is preparing for clinical trials, aiming to validate its safety and effectiveness in human patients.

Imunotera plans to complete non-clinical toxicity studies by 2027, with hopes to license and transfer the technology to a multinational pharmaceutical partner for large-scale manufacturing and marketing. This innovation has the potential to significantly alter the landscape of HPV-related disease treatment on a global scale.

Participation in international events like VivaTech in Paris illustrates the company’s ambition to expand its reach and establish international partnerships. The company also envisions adapting their platform technology to other cancers, including prostate and breast cancer, as well as developing therapies for Zika, dengue, and chikungunya.

This advancement represents a substantial step forward in immunotherapy, offering hope for more effective treatments against HPV-related cancers and other viral-associated diseases.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-therapeutic-vaccine-diseases-hpv.html