Towne-Toledo chimera vaccine

The Towne-Toledo chimera vaccines are a series of four experimental live attenuated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) vaccines developed by the CMV Research Foundation in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University. These vaccines were engineered by replacing approximately 25% of the genome of the highly attenuated Towne strain with corresponding sequences from the low-passage, more virulent Toledo strain. The objective was to enhance the immunogenicity of the Towne strain while maintaining its safety profile. In Phase 1 clinical trials (NCT01195571), the vaccines (designated chimeras 1 through 4) were evaluated for safety and immunogenicity in CMV-seronegative healthy adults. The vaccines were found to be well-tolerated with no viral shedding, and chimeras 2 and 4 demonstrated the most robust seroconversion rates. They are intended for the prevention of CMV infection in high-risk populations, including transplant recipients and women of childbearing age to prevent congenital CMV.

Other names

Towne-Toledo chimerasHCMV chimera vaccineTowne-Toledo chimera vaccines