Anthrax, a life-threatening infectious disease affecting both humans and animals, especially goats, cattle and horses, is caused by a bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis. It can be transmitted to humans by contact with infected animals. Though rare in developed countries, it still afflicts countries that do not have in place proper and effective protective public health measures and health regulations. However, after the 2001 bioterrorism attack in the USA when a white powder mailed through the postal system affected 22 people, it has become a major concern for these countries also. State and local agencies are at work to face such a bioterrorism eventuality.

These are three forms of disease caused by Anthrax, i.e., cutaneous (skin) anthrax, inhalation anthrax, and gastrointestinal anthrax, that respectively affect skin, lungs, and bowls. Anthrax generally and in most of the cases is preventable and curable, but in the latter two forms it can sometimes prove fatal.

So far, there has been only one anthrax vaccine “Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed,” that is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration of the USA for use in that country. It is manufactured by BioPort. Although the vaccine is effective in protecting against anthrax, it is not that efficient as it typically involves six-dose injections over a period of 18 months. As such research is on to develop new anthrax vaccine, and some patents have already been granted in USA for inventions covering anthrax vaccine related aspects.

The Special Feature in this issue of WISTA: Vaccines, beside covering anthrax and its vaccines in general, gives a brief on two very recent patents in the field, one granted or April 29, 2008 and titled ‘B. anthracis prevention and treatment', and the second on February 12, 2008 pertaining to ‘High level constitutive production of anthrax protective antigen’, comprising purified structurally, biologically and functionally active recombinant protective antigen protein of Bacillus anthracis.

The other features covered in this issue are: Patents for the 21st Century Applications, Scan Around the Globe, In Focus, Trials and Testing, Business Trends, Awards, Experts Converge, and Knowledge Spreads. While ‘Patents for the 21st Century Applications’ lists 16 recent patents on vaccines taken in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the USA, ‘Trials and Testing’ reports on four vaccines concerning different diseases, that are at various stages of development.

We welcome comments and suggestions from our readers.

Dr K V Swaminathan

Research & Analysis Team

Mr S R Adige - Principal Advisor
Upasana Verma - Sr. Research Scholar
Ms Lalita Gosal- Sr Res Fellow
Dr Shelley Lahiri - Consultant
Mr S S Kalra - Director