Sanofi is preparing to conduct clinical trials in Canada and the United States for an mRNA vaccine designed to target at least one bacterial protein. The pharmaceutical company developed an mRNA vaccine specifically to target CAMP.
As of 18 September, the Sanofi trial status is listed as not yet recruiting. Armora Biosciences is pursuing a different protein for an acne vaccine.
Based on research by George Liu at the University of California, San Diego, Armora is targeting a protein called hyaluronidase. The bacterium C. acnes produces both types of hyaluronidase.
Mouse studies show that large-chunks strains of C. acnes cause inflammation related to acne. A vaccine that stimulates antibodies to target only the large-chunks form of hyaluronidase could reduce acne in mice.
Liu said, "The ones that are hard to treat right now, those are the ones that we would target with a vaccine." Acne occurs when the immune system overreacts to proteins released by bacteria on the skin.
Antibiotics often kill helpful C. acnes strains alongside harmful ones. Current treatments like Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) carry side effects such as dry, itchy skin, impotence, and birth defects.
