"Inverse Vaccine" As a Potential Treatment of Autoimmune Disease

Published 2023-09-13

In a recent publication in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, researchers from the Univsersity of Chicago introduced a new concept of an "Inverse Vaccine" as a potential treatment tool for autoimmune disease. This new type of treatment essentially removes the immune systems memory of specific molecules. This concept is based on the immune system's natural "do-not destroy" marking of normal cell components which undergo normal cell death. Tagging molecules with a sugar known as N-acetylgalactosamine (pGal) could mimic this process and prevent immune recognition. The in-virto proof of concept study was performed on a Multiple Sclerosis model. Initial human safety trials have been conducted for Celiac Disease. Further trials of pGal compounds are planned.