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

Thymosin alpha 1 (T alpha 1) 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. T alpha 1 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 T alpha 1 allowed for fewer injections than those used in the previous clinical studies. In addition, a clinical study with Focetria (TM) MF59-adjuvanted monovalent H1N1 vaccine showed that treatment with T alpha 1 twice provided an earlier and greater response to the vaccine (P < 0.01).