Thymosin α1 continues to show promise as an enhancer for vaccine response

Thymosin α1 (Tα1) is an immune-modulating peptide that can be expected to improve response to vaccinations, as stimulated dendritic cells and T cells can act in concert to increase antibody production along with an improved cytotoxic response from the T cells themselves. Tα1 demonstrated efficacy in preclinical studies; subsequently, it was shown to enhance response to vaccinations in difficult-to-treat populations, including individuals immune suppressed due to age or hemodialysis, and leading to a decrease in later infections. During the 2009 pandemic outbreak of H1N1 influenza, mouse and ferret studies confirmed that the use of higher doses of Tα1 allowed for fewer injections than those used in the previous clinical studies. In addition, a clinical study with Focetria™ MF59-adjuvanted monovalent H1N1 vaccine showed that treatment with Tα1 twice provided an earlier and greater response to the vaccine (P < 0.01).