Abstract: This invention relates to novel formulations of pharmaceutical products, specifically nucleic acid vaccine products. The nucleic acid vaccine products, when introduced directly into muscle cells, induce the production of immune responses which specifically recognize Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions which comprise HIV Pol DNA vaccines are disclosed, along with the production and use of these DNA vaccines. The pol-based DNA vaccines of the invention are administered directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably humans, and preferably express inactivated versions of the HIV Pol protein devoid of protease, reverse transcriptase activity, RNase H activity and integrase activity, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). The DNA molecules which comprise the open reading frame of these DNA vaccines are synthetic DNA molecules encoding codon optimized HIV-1 Pol and codon optimized inactive derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Pol, including DNA molecules which encode inactive Pol proteins which comprise an amino terminal leader peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides comprising a DNA sequence encoding an HCV protein and fragments thereof that contain codons optimized for expression in a vertebrate host. Uses of the polynucleotides include eliciting an immune response specifically recognizing HCV.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions which comprise HIV Nef DNA vaccines are disclosed, along with the production and use of these DNA vaccines. The nef-based DNA vaccines of the invention are administered directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably humans, and express the HIV Nef protein or biologically relevant portions thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). The DNA molecules which comprise the open reading frame of these DNA vaccines are synthetic DNA molecules encoding codon optimized HIV-1 Nef and derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Nef, including nef modifications comprising amino terminal leader peptides, removal of the amino terminal myristylation site, and/or modification of the Nef dileucine motif. These modifications may effect wild type characteristics of Nef, such as myristylation and down regulation of host CD4.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel methods and formulations of nucleic acid pharmaceutical products, specifically formulations of nucleic acid vaccine products and nucleic acid gene therapy products.