The present invention relates to dermal vaccine formulations, designed for targeted delivery of an immunogenic composition to a dermal compartment of skin including the intradermal and epidermal compartments. The dermal vaccine formulations of the invention comprise an antigenic or immunogenic agent, and at least one molecule, e.g., a chemical agent, which enhances the presentation and/or availability of the antigenic or immunogenic agent to the immune cells of the intradermal compartment or epidermal compartment resulting in an enhanced immune response. The dermal vaccine formulations of the invention have enhanced efficacy as the antigenic or immunogenic agent is delivered to the intradermal compartment or epidermal compartment with enhanced presentation and/or availability to the immune cells that reside therein. The enhanced efficacy of the dermal vaccine formulations results in a therapeutically effective immune response after a single intradermal or epidermal dose, with lower doses of antigenic or immunogenic agent than conventionally used, and without the need for booster immunizations.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/842,922 filed on May 10, 2004 which claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/470,243, filed May 12, 2003, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
