An inverse vaccine, or reverse vaccine, is a hypothetical approach to the use of vaccines that trains the immune system to not respond to certain substances. Under laboratory conditions, an inverse vaccine has been shown to combat autoimmune diseases. [1] An autoimmune disease attacks the body's own cells and substances, an inverse vaccine must counteract this. The current method of combating the effects of an autoimmune disease is to suppress the entire immune system, which means that infections cannot be fought.
As of 2010, human trials were underway using naked DNA that encoded specific antigens of interests, particularly for multiple sclerosis using BHT-3009, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. [2]
Possible applications of inverse vaccines include: [3]
As of 2024, a study is underway into the safety of an inverse vaccine against multiple sclerosis, with a small group of patients and volunteers; for an inverse vaccine against celiac disease, a safety and efficacy study is underway in a limited group of subjects. [3] [7] [8]
A new type of vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) has shown in the lab setting that it can completely reverse autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes — all without shutting down the rest of the immune system.
In the quest to combat autoimmune diseases, scientists are exploring a groundbreaking approach: inverse vaccines. While still in the developmental stage and yet to be tested on humans, this novel concept holds the potential to revolutionize the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
The vaccine, known as a Vaccibody, is designed to teach the immune system to recognize certain proteins as self without impacting other immune cell functions, as is often seen with current MS therapies.
Researchers know that something called "food antigens" create tolerance for specific food proteins. Now researchers want to create an inverse vaccine that puts those particular food antigens to work inside of food allergic individuals so they can tolerate their allergens.
This study is to evaluate the Pharmacodynamic (PD), safety, tolerability, Pharmacokinetic (PK), and plasma biomarker response of KAN-101 in participants with Celiac Disease (CeD).