Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is an ideal target for immuno-contraception, development of a potential birth control vaccine with additional use for immunotherapy of advanced stage cancers

Abstract

The making of initial and progressively better, more immunogenic vaccines against hCG is briefly reviewed. Phase I Clinical trials in India, Finland, Sweden, Chile and Brazil have shown the safety and reversibility of the vaccine. Phase II trials have shown that anti-hCG antibodies above 50ng/ml titres prevent pregnancy in sexually active women without impairment of ovulation and derangement of menstrual regularity. A recombinant anti-hCG has been developed, which is expressed as DNA and protein. Priming with DNA followed by proteinic boosters of the vaccine induces very high titres of antihCG antibodies in mice. Extensive toxicology studies in rodent and marmosets have shown the safety of the recombinant vaccine. Besides contraception, the vaccine may find applications in therapy of terminal drugs-resistant cancers expressing hCG ectopically.