IMMUNOMODULATING AGENTS, A METHOD FOR THEIR PREPARATION AND THEIR USE FOR VACCINES

摘要

The present invention relates to new saponins for increasing the immune response in mammals and finds application in the field of immunology, supplying in particular new adjuvants, obtained by hemi-synthesis, starting from terpene sources. It also embraces the methods for the use of the new saponins as adjuvants to increase the immune response to an antigen in a mammal. The saponins of the present invention are suitable for veterinary and human pharmaceutical compositions which include one or more antigens, in particular those of synthetic origin, and one or more diluents, in pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles. These compositions can be used as immunopotenciators and/or immunomodulators in animals and human beings. The present invention further constitutes a vaccination method that includes the administration of one or more antigens and one or optionally more than one hemi-synthetic saponin of the invention.